Projected Top 5 NFL Fantasy Running Backs: Week 17 Projected Top 5 NFL Fantasy Running Backs: Week 17 By Bart Lopez With the NFL playoffs coming up now is the best time to sign up for an ALL-ACCESS membership. All the game previews and in-depth analyses for college football, college basketball, soccer, and NFL games will be at your fingertips. 1. Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC): MJD was good again last week against the Titans. He ran for 103 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He has been terrific all year for a bad Jaguars team. The Colts won’t be able to stop him on Sunday. Projected fantasy points: 17.9. 2. Ray Rice (BAL): Ray Rice had an all-around good game against the Browns last week. He ran for 87 yards and caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. Rice is the key guy in that offense and a must start. Projected fantasy points: 16.5. 3. Michael Bush (OAK): Bush has done a great job in the second half of the season, and was solid again last week. He collected 94 total yards in the exciting overtime win. The Raiders need big production from him this Sunday in a big game against the Chargers and I think he’ll rise to the occasion. Projected fantasy points: 16.2. 4. Chris Johnson (TEN): Chris Johnson was mediocre at best last week against the Jaguars. He ran for 56 yards and had little to no impact on the game. There is hope this week because the Titans are playing a Texans team that will be resting players. Projected fantasy points: 16.0. 5. LeSean McCoy (PHI): McCoy has put together a great season. He has 1,309 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. The Eagles are going to keep fighting until the end to help Andy Reid keep his job, so McCoy will get plenty of action. Projected fantasy points: 15.7. Not top 5, but could be: This week’s running back that missed the cut is Seattle’s Marshawn Lynch. Marshawn went beast mode against the Niners, scoring the first rushing touchdown of the year against San Francisco. He also ran for 107 yards on just 21 carries against the best rush defense in the NFL. I think he’ll run all over the Cardinals this week. Projected fantasy points: 13.2. Top 5 NFL fantasy quarterbacks Top 5 NFL fantasy wide receivers Top 5 NFL fantasy tight ends Top 5 NFL fantasy defenses/special teams Top 5 NFL fantasy kickers
