Week 14 Fantasy Football Projections: Predicting the Top RB Performances

Having a top RB in football is very important. It keeps the offense balanced and the defense honest.

It's also very important to have a stud RB in fantasy football.

Running backs can rack up points on the ground or through the air, and even once in a blue moon, they sometimes toss a TD pass. With the fantasy football playoffs beginning this week in most leagues, you need your top RB to dominate.

Here are four of the best Week 14 RB performers.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (vs. Buccaneers)

No matter how bad the Jaguars are, Maurice Jones-Drew does everything.

On Monday against San Diego, MJD accounted for almost 200 total yards and scored one TD.

This week, the Jaguars host the 4-8 Buccaneers, and Tampa Bay has arguably the NFL's worst defense.

Expect MJD to compile 200-plus total yards and score at least twice, because if the Steelers and Ravens couldn't completely shut him down, Tampa Bay doesn't have a chance.

Currently, the Bucs rank No. 27 and No. 29 against the pass and rush, respectively, so even with a poor pass offense, Jones-Drew will do enough to exploit that and get you some big fantasy points.

Just hope that you're not playing against him.

Michael Turner, Falcons (at Panthers)

The last time Michael Turner went against Carolina, he ran for almost 140 yards and scored two TDs.

The Panthers still have a weak rush defense (allow more than 130 per contest, rank No. 27), so anticipate Turner being fed early and often.

Another reason Turner will and needs to produce is to keep the Carolina offense off the field.

Rookie QB Cam Newton has the Panthers offense ranked inside the Top 10 in both rushing and passing, and with Atlanta having a weak pass defense, Newton is capable of rolling.

Not to mention the Falcons needs to get their balance back.

Last week, the Texans shut them down hard, and to get some confidence back, effectively running the ball is the best solution. Turner may not hit almost 140 like last time, but he'll be good for more than 100 with two TDs to get the passing game set up.

In turn, Atlanta gives themselves the best odds of winning when Michael Turner bowls over defenses.

Ray Rice, Ravens (vs. Colts)

Last week, it was the Browns who allowed Ray Rice to run for 200-plus yards, and this week Rice gets the winless Colts at home.

Here, we see that Indy ranks No. 30 against the rush (allows more than 140 per game), which is just as bad as Cleveland.

The only difference being the Colts are also horrible at defending the pass.

So Rice will have gained close to 250 total yards and scored three TDs when the day is done.

Baltimore's offense goes as Ray Rice goes, otherwise they wouldn't have beaten the Steelers, so expect him seeing a lot of touches early to draw up the defense. Then the Ravens will go downfield to Torrey Smith, but that will also set up the screens, draws and check-downs.

It's like fantasy football Nirvana these past few weeks for Ray Rice fantasy owners.

He's dominating and there are no signs of him slowing down.

Good fortune for the Ravens in the playoffs, too.

Chris Johnson, Titans (vs. Saints)

The New Orleans Saints may be 9-3 and have the NFL's most prolific passing offense, but they struggle in road games.

On the year, all three of the Saints' losses have come on the road, and their defense has played a big part in them slipping up.

Through 13 weeks of play, the Saints defense ranks No. 30 against the pass and No. 16 against the rush, and they allow a total of almost 380 yards per game.

They're obviously worse in pass defense because there's no reason to run the ball against them.

For one, no defense can slow them down. And two, they are pretty pitiful at pass defense.

That being said, that's what the Saints want you to do—throw the ball and play to their strength. Well, if the Titans want any chance to win, it's running the ball and controlling the game tempo with RB Chris Johnson.

Johnson may have begun the season slow, but he's since been on fire the past few weeks in compiling an average of more than 120 yards in each of the last four games.

This is music to the ears of those who have CJ in fantasy football. Expect Tennessee to run him all day until the Saints stop him.

In turn, he gets close to 150 rush yards and two TDs, because that gives Tennessee the best chance to win.

Not to mention the Titans are still alive for the playoffs, so they can't afford to lose this one.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27