Fantasy Football Week 2 Projections: Top RBs

Anytime you have a solid starting RB and you know that he's going up against a vulnerable defense, anxiety and excitement pump through your veins.

Well for the second week of the 2011 NFL season, there will be some new names atop the rushing leaders list, however, one may surprise you.

So with that said, here are the Top Four RBs for Week 2 in fantasy football.

4. Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

If you were wondering which one was going to be the surprise, it's Hightower.

Against a solid Giants' D in Week 1, he gained 72 on the ground and 25 through the air.

This week Hightower faces his former team in Arizona, so you know he has extra motivation to enhance those Week 1 numbers, plus, the Cardinals aren't nearly as good a defense as the Giants.

Anticipate Hightower easing to 100 yards and add another 50 from receiving, with at least one TD.

3. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

 He had a bad game in Week 1 at Baltimore, but in Week 2, Mendenhall bounces back with a solid performance against a much weaker Seattle Seahawks defense.

All-together Pittsburgh will play a better game, but too quickly jump on Seattle, pounding the rock with Rashard is what fuels Steelers' football, because that's what they've done since the 1970s.

Thus, you can expect him to eclipse 100, but really do damage in the red zone, meaning multiple TDs.

2. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

After slashing arguably the NFL's best defense in Pittsburgh at home in Week 1, Ravens' RB Ray Rice versus a Tennessee D that allowed 97 yards to Maurice Jones-Drew of Jacksonville.

Now not to take anything away from Jones-Drew and the Jags' offense, but it's a definite that Baltimore is not only better than Jacksonville, but the Ravens did better against a better opponent last weekend.

Therefore, expect Rice to hit around 125 on the ground, and almost 100 from screen passes and check-downs.

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

In Week 1 Peterson had a decent game running for 98 yards against a great San Diego defense on the road.

This week however, Adrian plays home against a very susceptible Tampa Bay defense that is currently having identity issues.

Hence, Peterson dominates the Metrodome all day (around 150 rushing with at least two TDs), and Minnesota gets their first win of the season.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

And you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.