Fantasy Football Week 14 Rankings: RB

Just when it was starting to look as if Larry Johnson might be a useful fantasy player for the first time in years, Cedric Benson swooped back in and reclaimed the role of workhorse running back for the Bengals.

After missing two sweet matchups against Cleveland and Oakland, Benson returned in Week 13 to another solid matchup against the Lions and received 36 carries in the win. Talk about not holding anything back. A touchdown or two would have capped the marvelous day, but owners can't complain about a 125-yard performance from a guy they didn't even know they'd have.

This week Benson faces the much tougher task of running on the Minnesota Vikings and the Williams Wall. With Cincinnati back to handing Benson 30-plus carries, you likely need to keep starting him, even in the bad matchup this game presents.

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1. Chris Johnson, TEN vs. STL
2. Ray Rice, BAL vs. DET
3. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT at CLE
4. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC vs. MIA
5. Steven Jackson, STL at TEN
6. Thomas Jones, NYJ at TB
7. Adrian Peterson, MIN vs. CIN
8. DeAngelo Williams, CAR at NE
9. Ryan Grant, GB at CHI
10. Jamaal Charles, KC vs. BUF
11. Frank Gore, SF vs. ARI
12. Ricky Williams, MIA at JAC
13. Joseph Addai, IND vs. DEN
14. Pierre Thomas, NO at ATL
15. Cedric Benson, CIN at MIN
16. Fred Jackson, BUF at KC
17. Kevin Smith, DET at BAL
18. Beanie Wells, ARI at SF
19. Knowshon Moreno, DEN at IND
20. Laurence Maroney, NE vs. CAR
21. Marion Barber, DAL vs. SD
22. Quinton Ganther, WAS at OAK
23. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD at DAL
24. Marshawn Lynch, BUF at KC
25. Jerome Harrison, CLE vs. PIT
26. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG vs. PHI
27. LeSean McCoy, PHI at NYG
28. Tim Hightower, ARI at SF
29. Julius Jones, SEA at HOU
30. Matt Forte, CHI vs. GB
31. Brandon Jacobs, NYG vs. PHI
32. Jonathan Stewart, CAR at NE
33. Chris Brown, HOU vs. SEA
34. Jason Snelling, ATL vs. NO
35. Willis McGahee, BAL vs. DET
36. Sammy Morris, NE vs. CAR
37. LenDale White, TEN vs. STL
38. Mike Bell, NO at ATL
39. Jerious Norwood, ATL vs. NO
40. Justin Fargas, OAK vs. WAS
41. Rock Cartwright, WAS at OAK
42. Carnell Williams, TB vs. NYJ
43. Ryan Moats, HOU vs. SEA
44. Justin Forsett, SEA at HOU
45. Michael Turner, ATL vs. NO
46. Chris Jennings, CLE vs, PIT
47. Shonn Greene, NYJ at TB
48. Darren McFadden, OAK vs. WAS
49. Felix Jones, DAL vs. SD
50. Kevin Faulk, NE vs. CAR
51. Darren Sproles, SD at DAL
52. Correll Buckhalter, DEN at IND
53. Reggie Bush, NO at ATL
54. Chad Simpson, IND vs. DEN
55. Leonard Weaver, PHI at NYG
56. Tashard Choice, DAL vs. SD
57. Derrick Ward, TB vs. NYJ
58. Michael Bush, OAK vs. WAS
59. Arian Foster, HOU vs. SEA
60. Lex Hilliard, MIA at JAC
61. Chester Taylor, MIN vs. CIN
62. Kahlil Bell, CHI vs. GB
63. Larry Johnson, CIN at MIN
64. Rashad Jennings, JAC vs. MIA
65. Brandon Jackson, GB at CHI

Fantasy writer note: Matt Snyder is covering baseball's Winter Meetings this week, and we're covering for him. Go break some stories, Matt!

I've been gushing over Jamaal Charles this week, and my rankings have him as high as No. 10 this week. He's scored in each of his last four games, and the Bills would probably have trouble stopping me at running back right now. Charles will continue his quest to wrap up the featured back role in 2010 with a huge game against Buffalo.

Quinton Ganther has been named the starter in Washington, replacing Rock Cartwright, who replaced Ladell Betts, who replaced Clinton Portis, who was finally put on the IR this week. Ganther sparked the offense in Week 13's near win against the Saints, and Washington likely wants to evaluate whether or not Ganther will be worth a rotational spot next year. I expect him to get a lot of work against Oakland and do relatively well.

Snowy conditions in Cleveland should have Rashard Mendenhall and Jerome Harrison toting the rock plenty on Thursday night. Mendenhall is easily a No. 1 RB this week against the Cleveland defense, and although Harrison's matchup is difficult, the game conditions make him a great flex play. Don't be surprised to see Chris Jennings turn a few heads as well.

Michael Turner's status is still up in the air. With the Falcons season slowing slipping away, I think he'll be pressed to play, but I don't see him making it very long. The second half should be the Jason Snelling show. Keep Turner on your bench if you have other options available to you.

Teams in need of RB help would be wise to hop on the Sammy Morris train before it leaves the station. He received about as much work as starter Laurence Maroney last week, and we all know how much coach Bill Belichick loves to rotate players at the position. Morris should have value for the fantasy playoffs, starting with this week's great matchup against the Panthers.