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Week 3 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 3 running back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Bill Dubiel (@Roto_Dubs), Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) and Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).

Lead columnist Bill Dubiel also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 3, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 3.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests for Week 3. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

 

Week 3 Running Backs - Rankings & Matchups Analysis

David Johnson will have no troubles dealing damage to the Bills run defense. Last week after the Jets got up in the game via the pass, they fed the ball to starting RB Matt Forte. He was able to run for 100 yards and three TDs. While it is likely he won’t match the TD total, Johnson will use his abilities as a rusher and receiver to have a huge Week 3.

Ezekiel Elliot dealt with some fumbling issues last week, but don’t let that deter you from starting him this week. Let’s get one thing straight: this backfield belongs to Zeke. Alfred Morris is an excellent complement and handcuff in fantasy, but this is really all Elliot’s territory. He faces Chicago this week, a unit who is missing some key defensive pieces due to injuries. Once the Cowboys get a lead, they will feed Elliot the ball leading to his best fantasy week of the season.

With the absence of Danny Woodhead, Melvin Gordon will take the reigns over in San Diego. If he wants to be effective this week at Indianapolis, he will need to improve on last season’s YPC number, which sat at 3.5. This season so far it has been up to 4.2, and this Colts defense has been porous against the rush averaging 125 yards per game against (fourth worst in the league). He will also have a better chance to improve on his 33 receptions last season. If Gordon can step his game up, he will be in line for not only a huge Week 3, but a top-five RB fantasy season.

Injuries hit the RB position hard so far in 2016. As injuries remove starters, we get to see what their backups can do. In come Theo Riddick and Charles Sims. It remains to be seen whether or not either of these backs can handle a full workload after being the primary receiving backs for their teams. Dwayne Washington and Jacquizz Rodgers will also be in the mix for carries, but both Riddick and Sims have great chances to produce with both starters facing multi-week absences. Especially in PPR formats, fire up both of these RBs expecting solid numbers.

Eddie Lacy has a great matchup against the Lions this week, who have averaged 5.1 yards per rush against so far in the young season. Detroit will be missing two of its three regular linebackers in this one due to injuries. The only thing holding Lacy back, is the Packers offense. Green Bay rushed with Lacy only 14 times in Week 1, and 12 times in Week 2 as Aaron Rodgers continues to fail to hit the 300-yard mark. The offense isn’t in sync right now, so it will be difficult for Lacy to capitalize on this great opportunity ahead of him. It is likely he has an OK game, but I would not expect anything spectacular.

Outside of a big 75-yard TD run last week, Isaiah Crowell looked OK at best against the Ravens rushing defense. This week against Miami things will be even more difficult. Not only will the Browns be forced to start their third string QB, but they lost their top young WR option in Corey Coleman, and the Dolphins boast a defensive line containing Ndamukong Suh, Cameron Wake, and Mario Williams. Crowell may seem like an appealing start looking at his stats from last week, but it’s shaping up to be a difficult matchup.

Jeremy Langford seems very close to losing the starting job all together in Chicago. Langford saw his snap count percentage decrease from Week 1 to Week 2 96% down to 60%. He came out against the Eagles and disappointed again, rushing for only 28 yards on 11 carries, while losing a fumble. Jordan Howard will likely be the benefactor if Langford continues losing carries, but with how poor the offensive line has been playing it may be tough for any RB to find success. The Cowboys present a good matchup, but Langford is still a very risky play.

Mark Ingram has yet to find his stride in 2016. He has only gained 88 yards on 21 attempts through two games. This week’s matchup with the Falcons will give Ingram a great chance to break through. The Falcons have allowed 122.5 rushing yards per game so far this season to the Raiders backfield and Doug Martin. With Brees opening up the passing game at home, Ingram will find running room in this one en route to a top-10 RB finish this week.

The schedule opens up over the next few weeks for Gurley, but this matchup with the Buccaneers will be another difficult one. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Bucs have done a nice job of limiting opposing RBs. They held Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman to 2.2 YPC in Week 1, and Chris and David Johnson to 3.5 YPC in Week 2. Gurley has only averaged 2.7 so far this season, as teams continue to stack the box with the lack of QB play on the Rams. Gurley will see another tough outing in Week 3, meaning owners will have to wait another week for his breakout game.

 

Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Back

Rank Player Name Pos Nick Ben Bill AVG
4 David Johnson RB 4 3 4 3.67
5 DeAngelo Williams RB 5 5 5 5.00
8 Lamar Miller RB 8 10 8 8.67
11 Ezekiel Elliott RB 13 9 10 10.67
12 Matt Forte RB 15 12 13 13.33
13 C.J. Anderson RB 17 17 15 16.33
19 DeMarco Murray RB 24 18 17 19.67
20 Mark Ingram RB 22 16 22 20.00
26 Melvin Gordon RB 10 21 47 26.00
29 LeSean McCoy RB 27 34 31 30.67
31 Theo Riddick RB 42 30 24 32.00
35 Devonta Freeman RB 52 28 27 35.67
37 Latavius Murray RB 31 41 39 37.00
46 Tevin Coleman RB 61 36 42 46.33
47 Eddie Lacy RB 47 48 49 48.00
48 Charles Sims RB 38 52 55 48.33
51 Todd Gurley RB 49 50 51 50.00
53 Spencer Ware RB 51 55 52 52.67
58 Ryan Mathews RB 55 63 59 59.00
60 LeGarrette Blount RB 59 61 61 60.33
64 Frank Gore RB 71 58 58 62.33
66 Rashad Jennings RB 58 81 69 69.33
67 Giovani Bernard RB 69 71 67 69.00
69 Isaiah Crowell RB 75 70 72 72.33
74 Christine Michael RB 67 82 79 76.00
76 Jerick McKinnon RB 89 75 71 78.33
77 T.J. Yeldon RB 79 83 80 80.67
78 Duke Johnson RB 93 80 75 82.67
79 Carlos Hyde RB 80 86 82 82.67
86 Shane Vereen RB 82 84 90 85.33
88 Jeremy Langford RB 72 95 104 90.33
89 James White RB 99 96 91 95.33
93 Cameron Artis-Payne RB 90 94 126 103.33
95 Matt Jones RB 108 103 97 102.67
100 Kenyan Drake RB 121 106 98 108.33
101 Jeremy Hill RB 100 111 107 106.00
102 Darren Sproles RB 109 110 106 108.33
104 Jay Ajayi RB 106 102 130 112.67
107 Thomas Rawls RB #N/A 114 114 114.00
108 Chris Thompson RB 116 116 117 116.33
109 Justin Forsett RB 117 122 111 116.67
113 Derrick Henry RB 127 115 115 119.00
119 Chris Ivory RB 151 118 133 134.00
130 Jamaal Charles RB #N/A 155 137 146.00
135 Alfred Morris RB 147 141 149 145.67
136 Bilal Powell RB 136 148 144 142.67
143 DeAndre Washington RB 140 145 157 147.33
144 Shaun Draughn RB 141 146 163 150.00
148 Charcandrick West RB 133 169 175 159.00
151 James Starks RB 168 165 170 167.67
156 C.J. Prosise RB 159 181 176 172.00
159 Tim Hightower RB 182 175 183 180.00
162 Jordan Howard RB #N/A 172 191 181.50
163 Devontae Booker RB 178 185 181 181.33
165 Chris Johnson RB 171 189 187 182.33
171 Alfred Blue RB #N/A 194 195 194.50

 


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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