In fantasy football, the running back position is usually the first pick in your draft, as the number of quality running backs who will up the value of your team becomes quickly limited after that first round. So outside of the top 10 running backs, who are must-starts no matter their schedule or matchup, we next have the middle tiers of running backs, whose performance could be easily impacted by their teams’ season schedule.
Here are three running backs who have some of the easiest schedules in 2014, which may give them that extra boost in value for you to consider for your fantasy football team.
Chris Johnson, Running Back New York Jets
For those of you planning on giving Johnson a chance now that he is a New York Jet, his easier schedule for 2014 may entice you. Of the Jets 16 regular season games, they face the bottom half-ranked defenses in nine of their matchups. Four of those nine games are against the five worst defenses when the Jets play at San Diego Week 5, Miami twice in Weeks 13 and 17, and at Minnesota Week 14.
Speaking of lower-ranked defenses, Johnson goes up against his former Titans, currently the 25th-ranked defense, in Week 15. You can bet Johnson is going to be all over that, and show them what they’re missing out on by letting him go.
Johnson only has to worry about running up against defenses ranked in the top five once when the Jets host Denver in Week 6. And, to Johnson’s advantage, winter games in Minnesota and at home during December, could have him pounding the ball even more these weeks.
If you’re considering Johnson for your 2014 fantasy team, keep in mind the fact that he is better than the Jets other array of running back options. The Jets wouldn’t have signed him for the big bucks he wanted if the team wasn’t going to feature him as the lead back, and his easier schedule for 2014 is all the more reason to think about adding him to your fantasy team.
Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars
Gerhart, is no longer the wingman to Adrian Peterson, as he signed on with the Jaguars during the free agency period. Poised to start as the lead back in Jacksonville, Gerhart’s easier schedule for 2014 increases his fantasy value even more. The Jaguars 2014 schedule has 10 of their 16 regular season games opposing defenses ranked 17-32. It couldn't get much sweeter for Gerhart starting out with his new team.
Four of those 10 games have Gerhart facing the lowly-ranked Washington defense in Week 2, the Chargers 31st-ranked defense in Week 4, Miami’s 28th-ranked defense in Week 8, and the worst defense of all in the Cowboys, Week 10.
The most challenging defense Gerhart will be pitted up against is in Week 9, when the Jaguars play in Cincinnati, whose defense is ranked sixth.
Currently, Gerhart is going off mock draft boards between rounds five and six. Gerhart’s ease of schedule for 2014 should ease the minds of those thinking about drafting him as a flex or third running back for their team.
Trent Richardson, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
Faced with one of the easiest schedules in 2014, is Richardson of the Colts. Let’s put Richardson’s pitiful performance from 2013 in the archives and focus on the positives that surround him this season.
The Colts 2014 schedule only has Richardson facing a top-five defense once and that will quickly be behind him as the Colts play in Denver Week 1. Outside of Denver, Richardson only plays against a top-10 defense two other times when the Colts face Cincinnati in Week 7, and fresh off their bye when they play at New England in Week 11.
For the remainder of the season, the team faces in eight of their games, the bottom half-ranked defenses. These games include savory matchups against Philadelphia, Jacksonville twice, Tennessee twice, the New York Giants, Washington, and Dallas’ awful defense Week 16.
Richardson, should he be able to put up the type of numbers as he did in his 2012 rookie year with Browns, could have a rebound year with his easier schedule working to his advantage. He also will not have fellow back, Donald Brown to compete with. If drafted appropriately, meaning no higher than a RB3, Richardson definitely has upside in 2014.
All defense rankings come from ESPN's current fantasy football rankings.