Week 14 Rest-of-Season Rankings: Backup RBs Turned Legit Starters

The fantasy landscape is ever-changing before our eyes. Last season we were treated to a shift to solo backfields, resulting in a boom for running backs as they dominated fantasy. The only high-profile exception was the Lions and their Sonic and Knuckles duo, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. This season, we have seen more solo acts as Christian McCaffrey has returned to elite status, Jonathan Taylor makes a run at LaDainian Tomlinson, and De'Von Achane is a one-man wrecking crew in Miami. Even as soloists dominate the ground attack, we are watching as duos creep back into the conversation, creating real discussions about whether both are viable fantasy options. Here are a few backups who have transitioned from elite handcuffs to legit starters.

Woody Marks - ROS: RB25, UR Score: 55

Woody Marks still shares the backfield with the veteran Nick Chubb, but he has shifted into a more dominant role. The key to why you may want to invest in him down the stretch is his usage. A 55 Utilization Score is major, and we can see it. He has garnered 16-20 touches over the past four weeks. The results have not always been what you would think, but there is plenty of room for positive regression. A lot of the short yardage/goaline work has gone to his running mate, but Marks has the skill to make his presence felt in fantasy between the 20s.

Kyle Monangai - ROS: RB27, UR Score: 45

Since the Bears' week five bye, Kyle Monangai has finished in the top 30 in six of the eight weeks and every week over the past five. He has been as high as RB3 in PPR formats. He has wrestled away carries from D'Andre Swift and is getting a fair amount of goalline carries. The Bears clearly want to run the football, and Monangai is clearly a part of that plan. It makes no sense that he is only rostered in 59% of leagues when it seems like his new floor is double-digit points, but if he is still available in your league, he is the one to spend heavily on and grab for the playoff push.

Tyler Allgeier - ROS: RB32, UR Score: 35

Tyler Allgeier has been in the top 30 for seven out of the Falcons' 12 games this season. The secret to his relevancy as a number two back? Touchdowns. In all seven of those weeks, he has found the endzone. He even finished as RB7 back in week 10 against the Colts, a game where he had 57 yards and two touchdowns. Over the past four weeks, he has finished RB7, 30, 34, and 21. With the Falcons' passing woes, they have been leaning on the backs even more, and that means a bigger role for Allgeier with more opportunities to snatch touchdowns away from his running mate Bijan Robinson.

Kenneth Gainwell - ROS: RB36, UR Score: 59

Kenneth Gainwell has always been a quality number two on any roster he has been on. In this Arthur Smith offense, he has really seen his role increase throughout the season. We saw the potential to be a lead back in week four against the Vikings, where he finished RB3 in PPR formats. Targets have been the key to his relevancy. He has been targeted 51 times so far this season. That includes 17 over the past three weeks, and he has finished in the top 10 in 2 of the three weeks. His explosiveness allowed him to turn short passes into longer gains, thus thrusting himself into this conversation of RB2s that have weekly fantasy value. Jaylen Warren is still the man, but Gainwell has carved out a legit role.

Devin Singletary - ROS: RB37, UR Score: 30

With the emergence of Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary seemed to be on his way out of New York, but he has continued to gain touches. Ever since Skattebo went down with an injury, Singletary and Tyrone Tracy have been splitting the backfield. Over the past five weeks, he's been receiving 10 or more touches, and he has produced two top 11 finishes of 17.2 points and 17.7 points in PPR formats over the past three weeks. He has been the consummate professional in this backfield, and it is once again garnering him opportunities that many of us did not believe he would receive. He's rostered in less than 30% of leagues across platforms, so it is a perfect chance to scoop him up.

Blake Corum - ROS: RB40, UR Score: 28

People have been waiting for Blake Corum to break out and possibly even take over in this backfield, but clearly, a takeover is not coming. What we have seen, though, is a legitimate role emerge for him. Over the past five weeks, he has received 13 carries twice, eight carries, and seven carries twice. That includes a week 13 top 20 performance. Corum has the ability to wrestle targets away from Kyren Williams in this offense, and he has proven that he can be effective. It is surprising that he is only rostered in 16% of leagues across platforms. If you are a fantasy manager who needs to take a big swing, he may be the answer.

Bhayshul Tuten - ROS: RB42, UR Score: 29

We have seen signs that the speedy back from Virginia Tech has been gaining favor in the Jaguars' backfield. He has scored a touchdown in three of the past five weeks, as well as getting seven or more carries the last four weeks. The yards per attempt have been low this season (3.6), but what does a home run hitter need to break out of a slump? Reps. The same applies to a running back who is not hitting home runs. Well, he seems to be getting more touches; the question is, with the need to grab backs who have high upside, why is Tuten only rostered in 43% or less of rosters across platforms?