Four Must Start Running Backs in Week 14

After 13 weeks of the NFL season, finding 24 trusted running backs to start in 12-team fantasy leagues is a challenge in itself. When adding some rosters could be hoarding RB depth, game managers are coin-tossing the direction of running backs in lineup decisions as the 2025 season unwinds.

To help with this week’s start/sit decision at the running back position, I will use one of my leagues for this exercise. My team is in the league championship game against a great team that beat my roster by 276.75 fantasy points during the regular season. On the positive side for my chances, he will be without Christian McCaffrey and Tetairoa McMillan due to a bye week. In addition, Justin Herbert could sit, leaving him with Trey Lance at the quarterback position.

If my team wins, I have a chance at winning $1,000,000 over a three-week playoff run.

Here’s my running backs:

·  Bucky Irving, Sean Tucker

·  D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai

·  Travis Etienne

·  Quinshon Judkins

I can start up to four running backs, but this team also has four viable wide receivers (CeeDee Lamb, Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith).

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In his first game back after missing six games, the Buccaneers had Irving on the field for 52% of their plays, leading to 19 touches with 81 combined yards, one touchdown, and two catches. He finished the week ranked 15th in running back scoring (16.10 fantasy points) in PPR formats. Tampa has him listed as questionable midweek due to a lingering shoulder issue that could be just maintenance.

Over his first four games, Irving averaged 18.50 fantasy points despite averaging only 3.3 yards per carry. The Buccaneers gave him 22.5 touches per game.

New Orleans is about league average against running backs (266.60 fantasy points in PPR formats). They’ve faced the second-most rushes (320) by backs, with them scoring 11 touchdowns. The Saints allow 4.2 yards per rush and 7.1 yards per catch.

Irving is a key part of Tampa’s offense, and he should be active this week with a three-down opportunity. The Bucs will undoubtedly rotate in a second running back, lowering the ceiling of their top running back. Based on his usage in Week 13, I have Irving as a must-start for me. He is my seventh-ranked running back in my early Week 14 projections.

D’Andre Swift/Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears

After 12 games, the Bears’ running backs have rushed for the second-most yards (1,568) with 12 touchdowns on 312 carries (5th). Chicago ranks poorly in running back catches (35 – 28th), but their backs gain 9.5 yards per catch with one touchdown.

Swift has been on the field for 52.4% of their plays, with one missed game. Over the past three weeks, the Bears had him in the field for 57%, 45%, and 53% of their plays, leading to 21, 9, and 19 touches. He’s gained over 100 rushing yards in three contests (14/108, 19/124/1, and 18/125/1) while scoring seven times in 11 matchups. Swift ranks 17th in fantasy points (160.10) in PPR formats.

Monangai had limited opportunity over the Bears’ first five games (2.10, 4.60, 3.00, 1.80, and 5.40 fantasy points). He’s riding a four-game scoring streak, with two high-volume touch weeks (26/176 with three catches for 22 yards and 22/130/1), with the first coming when Swift was injured. Over his last six games, Monangai only had eight targets (4/36). He’s been 40.9% of Chicago’s plays (37%, 54%, and 45% over the past three weeks. He comes into Week 14 with an ankle issue that may be minor.

Green Bay sits 10th in running back defense (240.80 fantasy points). They hold back to 3.8 yards per carry with minimal damage catching the ball (59/342/0 – 5.8 yards per catch) and touchdowns (7).

Four times over their previous seven matchups, the Bears rushed for over 170 yards. They only have three catches for 41 yards on six targets over their last three games.

The decision between Chicago’s running backs is closer to a coin flip than it may appear due to Monangai emerging as the in-close rusher. Swift could offset this shortfall at times with more targets, but that role/opportunity has been diminished in six of his last seven starts.

Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

After a dismal showing in Week 13 (12/28 with one catch for 13 yards), Etienne should be the easy sit for me based on my running back options. He was perfect over his previous four games (16.50, 15.70, 19.30, and 20.60 fantasy points) while averaging 20.5 touches per game. Etienne ranks 15th in fantasy points (168.60) in PPR formats. He’s been on the field for 57.8% of the Jaguars’ plays.

Bhayshul Tuten has a rushing touchdown in three of his last five contests, with one active game (15/74/1). He only gets token chances in the passing game, and his preseason speed billing hasn’t translated to success on the field (no runs over 20 yards while averaging 3.6 yards per carry).

The Colts are just above the league average in running back defense (262.80 fantasy points). They hold them to 3.9 yards per carry and 6.7 yards per catch. Backs have 11 scores vs. Indianapolis.

Etienne has a better matchup than the Bears’ two running backs, and he is on the field for more plays. He brings less confidence after a dull showing, but the Jaguars are well-coached and playing well on other sides of the ball.

More Running Back Updates from Newsweek Sports

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

Over the Browns’ 12 games this year, they’ve scored two touchdowns or fewer in 10 contests. Eleven of their 22 scores in 2025 have come via the running back position. Cleveland averaged 30 rushes over their last four matchups.

Judkins is another mid-range RB2 (145.80 fantasy points) who ranks 18th while sitting out Week 1. He’s scored over 15.00 fantasy points in five contests (16.50, 21.50, 26.40, 16.70, and 15.90), which includes his last two starts. Cleveland gave him 19.5 touches over his previous four games.

Tennessee has one glowing signal to start Judkins. They’ve allowed 18 touchdowns to running backs, with them gaining 4.8 yards per carry. The Titans rank 23rd in running backs defense (301.60 fantasy points).

The suspect quarterback play by Cleveland lowers the ceiling for their players’ scoring. The Browns have talent on defense, giving them a chance at short fields on some drives and upping Judkins’ scoring ability. This matchup is favorable, with an opportunity for their star rookie running back to score multiple times on the ground.

Based on my research, Bucky Irving, Travis Etienne, and Quinshon Judkins rank above the Bears’ running backs in Week 14. The Colts/Jaguars game should create more scoring chances, giving Etienne my RB2 nod. Judkins now moves into my flex decision with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, as I want to get him into my starting lineup.

For the record, Quinshon Judkins is ranked 11th at running back by my projections this week, about a half a touchdown higher than Etienne.

Good luck in your Week 14 matchups!