Week 14 Fantasy Football Rankings: Marshawn Lynch and RBs Who Will Run Wild

With most fantasy leagues' playoffs starting in Week 14, the games have suddenly become that much more important. Because of that, it is absolutely vital for fantasy owners to get huge efforts from their stud players.

Perhaps the most consistent performers in the fantasy world are running backs. No skill position players have the benefit of more touches than running backs, so they tend to put up some big numbers. There are several high-profile backs with advantageous matchups this week, and that should bode well for your fantasy team. Here are three running backs who will dominate and help lead your fantasy team to victory this week.

Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons may lean more toward being a passing team this season, but that hasn't stopped running back Michael Turner from having another great year. With four games left to play, Turner is just eight yards shy of 1,000 for the season and has scored eight touchdowns, so he has been a fantasy cornerstone for many teams.

Turner is a must-start option every week, but on Sunday he has a particularly good matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Although they have improved a bit in recent weeks, the Panthers are among the league's worst teams against the run. Turner had his best game of the season by far when he faced the Panthers earlier in the year.

In that game, Turner set season-high marks in carries with 27, yards with 139 and touchdowns with two. The Falcons deviated from their pass-heavy scheme in that game and were successful, so I don't think they will have any reservations about doing it again. Turner should be in for another monster game.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice hasn't been the most consistent runner this season, but he is certainly capable of turning in some huge performances. That was the case last week against the Cleveland Browns when he ran for 204 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers won't be out of reach once again this week when he faces the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts rank 30th in the league against the run and rarely offer any type of true resistance. Rice can be counted on to get well over 20 touches per game, and while he doesn't always put up the best statistics, he usually takes full advantage of playing against soft defenses.

Baltimore should be up on the Colts early, meaning it will run the ball plenty. Rice will likely be the focal point of the Ravens offense in this game, both as a runner and pass receiver. Provided he gets enough touches, there is absolutely no reason why Rice can't approach 200 total yards while scoring a touchdown or two as well.

Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

Generally thought of as little more than fantasy depth during the early part of the season, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has developed into a must-start fantasy commodity. Lynch was very quiet over the season's first six weeks or so, but he may very well be the best running back in the league over the past several games.

Lynch has gone over 100 rushing yards in four of his past five games and he has also scored at least one rushing or receiving touchdown in eight consecutive games. Lynch describes his punishing running style as "Beast Mode." While the beast inside him has been mostly dormant as a Seahawk, it has awoken in a big way.

If his recent play wasn't enough to make you think he will have a huge game on Monday night, the fact that he is facing the St. Louis Rams and their league-worst run defense should be. The Rams are allowing more than 150 rushing yards per game, and since Lynch receives the vast majority of Seattle's carries, 150 yards isn't out of the question for him, nor is an extension of his touchdown streak.