Week 14 Start Em Sit Em: Marion Barber and Surprise RBs Who Will Shine

Week 14 of the fantasy football season is time to get real. You can't make any more mistakes or take risks just hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. The postseason is here, and it is time to throw the big guns out. 

We all know who the major players are and what they are going to do. We have 13 weeks of evidence to go on with those players. 

But what good would more advice about Aaron Rodgers or Calvin Johnson do you? I am going to give you some names that you need to keep in mind as you prepare to dominate the rest of your league en route to a championship. 

Here are three running backs that you need to plug into your starting lineup this week.

Marion Barber, RB, Chicago Bears

It was a bad week for Matt Forte owners, but when a door closes, a window opens. Granted that window is not nearly as luxurious as the door, but beggars can’t be choosers.

With Forte out this week, and likely for the rest of the season, Barber is a safe bet to touch the ball at least 20 times over the next four weeks.

Barber has actually scored more rushing touchdowns this season than Forte—five to three—but he doesn’t possess the all-around game.

Still, Barber has proven that he can be an effective running back in limited action this season. Give him a chance for one week to prove what he can do. If it doesn’t work, then you can officially start panicking.

Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Speaking of all-purpose running backs, how about Dexter McCluster?

The Chiefs don’t have a lot of playmakers on offense, so it is surprising how little they have actually incorporated McCluster into the game plan this season. He has proven himself to be one of the best dual-threat players in the NFL, at least when he has gotten touches.

Sunday’s game was a step in the right direction as McCluster had 107 total yards and one touchdown. There is a lot of risk involved with starting him because of how inconsistent his touches have been, but something tells me that the Chiefs are going to keep using him until he proves he can’t make plays anymore.

Toby Gerhart, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Gerhart ran the ball in Week 13 like he did in his senior season at Stanford. He had 91 rushing yards and added 42 more in the passing game.

With Adrian Peterson’s ankle sprain leaving his status for upcoming games in doubt, Gerhart is a good bet to produce again next week.

The Vikings take on the Detroit Lions, who have given up the 10th-most rushing yards in the NFL. It doesn’t hurt that Ndamukong Suh will be out for this game as he finishes his two-game suspension for the Stomp Heard Round The World.

Gerhart has a way of overpowering defensive fronts that are smaller and rely more on speed, which is what the Lions have.