Top 5 Projected Running Backs: Week 14 Top 5 Projected Running Backs: Week 14 By Bart Lopez Need an edge for your league playoffs? 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. Ray Rice (BAL): Ray Rice deservedly gets the top spot after destroying the Browns in week 13. He finished with 204 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Ravens play the Colts this week, so the question is can he break 200 yards two games in a row? Projected fantasy points: 23.4. 2. Chris Johnson (TEN): It looks like Chris Johnson has finally returned to form. He rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns against Buffalo. The Titans play the Saints on Sunday. Expect Johnson to break the 100 yard rushing mark again against a below average rush defense. Projected fantasy points: 18.1. 3. Marshawn Lynch (SEA): Marshawn went into beast mode last week against the Eagles. He took 22 carries for 148 yards and scored two touchdowns. This week the Seahawks host the Rams. St. Louis has the worst run defense in the league, giving up 157.8 rushing yards per game. If you didn’t start Lynch last week, make sure you do this week. Projected fantasy points: 17.0. 4. Arian Foster (HOU): Foster reached the end zone for the sixth straight game against the Falcons. He also ran for 131 yards and caught three passes for 41 yards. The Texans face a tough Bengals defense on Sunday, but Foster has been exceptional since getting back from his leg injury. Projected fantasy points: 16.0. 5. Rashard Mendenhall (PIT): Rashard Mendenhall had a great game against the Bengals, rushing for 60 yards and scoring two touchdowns. This week the Steelers play the Browns. Cleveland’s defense is suspect at best, so expect Mendenhall to be quite productive. Projected fantasy points: 15.7. Not top 5, but could be: This week’s running back that just missed the cut is Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew. MJD had a solid game in the losing effort on Monday night. He rushed for 97 yards and caught six passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Jones-Drew has been the sole offensive threat for the Jaguars all year, and I expect him to go on producing in week 14 against the Bucs. Projected fantasy points: 14.7. 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
