Week 14 Fantasy Football Projections: Chris Johnson and RBs Who Will Explode

Week 14 is playoff time for many fantasy football leagues. It’s time to make a statement to your friends by winning decisively in the opening round. Here are a few running backs that will significantly help your team by exploding for massive games.

Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans isn’t exactly a player that many should feel comfortable relying upon during fantasy football postseason play, but he has been great in the past few weeks.

For those that actually kept Johnson after his early season struggles, it is paying huge dividends. He has rushed for over 100 yards in three of the past four games including a 190-yard performance against Tampa Bay. In those three century mark performances, Johnson averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

When the Titans give the ball to Johnson 20 or more times, not only are they undefeated (5-0), but Johnson eclipses 100 yards rushing.

To beat the New Orleans Saints, Tennessee will have to keep Drew Brees off the field. There is no better equalizer than ground-and-pound.

Running the football will be paramount for a Titans victory. The Saints have the 16^th-best rushing defense, allowing 115 yards per game.

Not only has Johnson been successful in the run game but he has also been solid in the pass game. He has about four catches per game in his past three.

Johnson will get you double-digit points against the Saints, especially if the Titans want to win their eighth game of the season.

Ray Rice

Anytime the Indianapolis Colts play, expect to see their rush defense gashed. They are ranked 30^th in rush defense, allowing 144 yards per contest.

They are going to be in for another long and strenuous day against one of the best running backs in the NFL—Ray Rice.

Advantage Ravens.

Baltimore tends to play down to their competition with losses to Seattle and Jacksonville. However, those games were on the road. This will be played in the friendly confines. I don’t see Indianapolis’ first victory coming this week.

Rice has rushed for 926 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011. Even if Rice doesn’t have an up-to-par type of day on the ground he could have a great game through the air. He has 56 receptions on the season for 547 yards.

Expect a double-digit day out of Rice given who they’re playing and just how great he has been this season.

Marshawn Lynch

The Seattle Seahawks have won three of their past four games. Running back Marshawn Lynch has been one of the biggest reasons why. He has rushed for 100 yards in three of those four games, all of which were victories.

St. Louis, consequently the team they are playing in Week 14, allowed 88 yards and one touchdown to Lynch in Week 11.

Lynch has nine total touchdowns and 1,024 yards total in 2011.

The Rams are a great team to up against if you are looking for a big day rushing the football. Their rush defense has been atrocious this season, allowing 158 yards rushing which is the worst in the NFL.

Lynch keeps things rolling against a porous defense. The only horrific thing about Lynch running all over St. Louis is the fact that we all have a chance to watch it on Monday Night Football. Yes, you read it correctly, this game will be on Monday Night Football.

Enjoy.