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Every year there are a crop of players from each respective NFL position that skies to a two-fold increase from their preseason rankings. Who will be the names we see do that from the running back position this year? Notjustagame.com profiles a few running backs to watch for a major leap in 2014.

Rashad Jennings
Sometimes veteran backs can finally get that major role and flourish for a couple of seasons. Jennings has caught the fantasy radar a few times before in starting roles for Jacksonville and Oakland. Those instances were only for a bundle of games while the starter was out with injury. In New York, Jennings should finally have an increased role especially with the retirement of David Wilson.

Lamar Miller
I’m happy that the Dolphins did not cast away Miller and write off the running back. His play on the field has shown that maybe he should not be given another chance. Miller has been far too inconsistent for a team with an inexperienced quarterback. In his first two seasons his competition was Daniel Thomas. Now he has a heralded back in Knowshown Moreno who will be emphasized in the Dolphins ground attack. It’s still Miller’s job though and he offers the better big play ability. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Thomas Jones type of resurrection from Miller. Jones took awhile to mature on the field and ultimately the Cardinals let him go. It took joining the Bears for Jones to develop. Look for Miller to turn heads this season in a much improved Dolphins offense.

LeGarrette Blount
For some reason Blount can not latch onto a team properly. Three seasons in Tampa Bay weren’t enough to for the Bucs to keep him longer. New England utilized him a year ago as a platoon back that panned out when injuries occurred. Now he is in Pittsburgh where he seemingly will be behind workmanlike back Leveon Bell. Remember Bell isn’t the most durable back and carried the football in college at a higher rate than some professional backs do these days.

Bishop Sankey
Tennessee has always been a team that has been able to produce quality fantasy running backs. Fantasy owners may be hesitant on picking up Sankey because of Shonne Greene and the new coaching staff. Sankey slipped in the NFL draft as far as I’m concerned. In the Pac-12 he was an unstoppable machine. Look for him to be a surprise and catch fire on fantasy radars.

Bryce Brown
Out in Buffalo something just did not seem right with the way the Bills used CJ Spiller last year. It seemed like he was underutilized purposely. For how he played the year prior there really was no reason to see the production drop off mandated by the coaching staff. Look for Brown to sneak in and grab ahold of a percentage from either Jackson or Spiller.

Others: Jeremy Hill, Mark Ingram, Carlos Hyde, and Donald Brown

Cam Newton
Newton can drive you crazy as a fantasy owner with his abysmal weeks yardage wise. But Newton has the best hidden fantasy value of any quarterback because of his legs. Carolina has not had a fantasy friendly running back in years because of Newton. They have the short yardage plunge perfected with Newton. Get ready for more Superman chest flashes this season.

Andrew Luck
Luck isn’t a top twelve fantasy quarterback yet with his arm, but gives a little extra value with his legs. You have to wonder if the Colts have success running the football if Luck’s numbers start to dwindle with his legs. Until then though you can boost Luck up a few spots because of his rushing ability.

Colin Kaepernick
People tend to doubt Kaepernick’s arm but I’m a high believer in Kaepernick for both his legs and arm. In week one last year against Green Bay he dazzled and outplayed Aaron Rodgers with his arm. His accuracy was pinpoint but for some reason the 49ers offense was in disarray all season. It was Kaepernick’s first full season as starter. He was a series away from his second Super Bowl appearance. Look for the 49ers to unleash Kaepernick a bit more with his legs as it looked like he was held back in that fashion last year.

RG3
His numbers will likely never get to the level they were as a rookie but history always repeats itself. Time and time again an athlete gets boosted too high coming back from an injury than written off when actually healthy.

Ryan Fitzpatrick
Last year in Tennessee, Fitzpatrick made some nice plays with his legs. He has scrambling ability and isn’t afraid to tuck and go. Who can forget his scramble for a touchdown as a Buffalo Bill against the Miami Dolphins? Fitz likely won’t be on too many fantasy rosters but owners in dire need can have some insurance with Fitzpatrick’s rushing ability.

Others: Russ Wilson, Ryan Tannehil, Johnny Manziel, Mike Vick, EJ Manuel, and Alex Smith

By Tyler Cimini

If your plan going in to your leagues fantasy draft was to draft a quarterback in the first round whose name isn’t Brees, Rodgers, or P. Manning then your season is over before it even began. The NFL is a passing league, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that snagging two quality running backs is the best way to carry your fantasy team.

Top running backs to snag
Lesean McCoy-Last year, McCoy was a yardage monster. Putting up 1,946 in total yards and 11 total touchdowns he ranked 11th in overall fantasy points and second among running backs. In week 1 of the pre-season it was a shock to see that Foles didn’t play so hot (2 INT). If that’s a sign of things to come than maybe we’ll see more of McCoy handling the game, while Foles manages it.

Adrian Peterson
-It’s no secret that AP will go in the first round and most likely number one overall. But he may also be on the board by the third or fourth pick too if you have a league of what I call stat collectors. AP was only 6th in standard leagues for running backs last year with 203.7 points. That means Matt Forte was ahead of him (229.5) and Demarco Murray (198.2) close behind. However, I expect AP to rise ahead in scoring considering two factors. The first being, every rookie quarterbacks best friend is a solid running game and the second is new offensive coordinator, Norve Turner. Turner will undoubtedly try to use AP in any situation he can to take the presser off Bridgewater (if he starts).

Best late round steal

Darren Sproles-In 2013 he was only able to come up with 99 overall fantasy points. I know…it’s risky. But with a new team and new system I expect to see a lot of two back formations from the Eagles. The upside to Sproles is his ability to play a receiving threat on offense. Especially for anyone drafting in a PPR league, this is your guy.

Owner Beware

Knowshon Moreno
-Remember last season? Did you know Moreno was 4th in points for running backs? Did you forget the quarterback was Payton Manning? I’m sure you didn’t. Now he is in a new offense with a new quarterback in Miami. Before Peyton, I knew him as “No-Show” Moreno and many camp reports from Miami are only showing signs of regression for him. His official debut is scheduled for week 2 of the pre-season where he will be judged with heavy eyes.

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I find it funny how running backs and quarterbacks get the bulk of discussion in terms of age and performance. Speculation of their jobs being overtaken appear continuously throughout their tenure as a professional. For a wide receiver though it’s the opposite and downplayed. When a receiver diminishes it’s like saying goodbye to a common worker in a regular job field.

It’s an after thought and the next young performer steps in without a discussion to the level of a quarterback or running back.

I’m ending that buck with this column. The focus is on wide receivers on the downside of their pro careers and fantasy football success.

Reggie Wayne
As dynamic as Wayne’s career has been you have to wonder if this comeback is truly in the best interest of the Colts organization or Wayne. I’m going to lean to Wayne. He has had a heck of a career that actually started off slow during Marvin Harrison’s heydays. The descent is inevitable. You just hope that Wayne ends on good football grounds and not the way a receiver like Torry Holt did. In fantasy football rankings he is sitting in the later 20’s. That may be too high until we see how he responds from injury and adapting back to full game speed.

Vincent Jackson
By all means Jackson probably has another year or two as a starting wide receiver left in him. But I’m discounting the high value he is receiving for fantasy football this season. Jackson lacks break away speed as evidenced by him getting tracked down several times last year. 80 percent of receivers would have scored on the touchdowns he was tracked down on. His size and knack to catch the ball in traffic for touchdowns keeps the fantasy radar locked on him. Look for Jackson’s numbers to diminish from a year ago.

Marques Colston
By the drafting of Kenny Stills last year and Brandin Cooks this year the Saints are preparing for the end for Colston. Injuries have taken their toll on Colston but he has still managed to be a solid WR3/WR4 in fantasy football. If Colston had to learn a new system or play with another quarterback he likely wouldn’t be even a top 50 wide receiver. His rapport with Brees allows him to maintain credible fantasy status.

Others: Greg Jennings and Hakeem Nicks

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Friday night is in the books for week one of the preseason. Here are a few quick notes on fantasy worthy contributors to this upcoming season.

Nic Foles
Ouch. While most starting quarterbacks either sat out or had minimal affect in short stints, Nic Foles put out a dud performance. Two interceptions are not what fantasy owners want to see on nine attempts. I’ll fade this output and look for Foles to put his 2014 early jitters away.

Bryce Brown
Brown had a few opportunities as an Eagle and flourished for a couple of games there. Now he is in Buffalo where a role could open up in similar fashion. Fred Jackson is up there in age and CJ Spiller is not a high carry back. Brown ran the ball for 64 yards on 11 carries Friday night against the Panthers.

Mark Ingram
Ingram was probably the most impressive fantasy worthy player Friday night. He looked leaner overall and took advantage of his eight carries on the night. In all he totaled over 80 yards and scored a touchdown on a nifty 22-yard run. Ingram became a bigger part of the Saints offense during the latter part of 2013. He’ll need to showcase a continuation of a solid effort in the preseason before he gets moved up to RB2 consideration.