Fantasy: Week 3 Rankings - Running Backs (Analysis)
Mark Zerof / Reuters
Over the last two seasons, theScore's Justin Boone has finished in the top 10 in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition, and this year he's second overall after two weeks. Follow the links to see his rankings for Week 3.
A final rankings update will be available on Sunday morning.
Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | K
Running Backs
| Rank | Player | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LeSean McCoy - PHI | vs. Was |
| 2 | DeMarco Murray - DAL | at StL |
| 3 | Arian Foster - HOU | at NYG |
| 4 | Giovani Bernard - CIN | vs. Ten |
| 5 | Marshawn Lynch - SEA | vs. Den |
| 6 | Matt Forte - CHI | at NYJ |
| 7 | Eddie Lacy - GB | at Det |
| 8 | Rashad Jennings - NYG | vs. Hou |
| 9 | Le'Veon Bell - PIT | at Car |
| 10 | Knile Davis - KC | at Mia |
| 11 | Zac Stacy - STL | vs. Dal |
| 12 | Alfred Morris - WAS | at Phi |
| 13 | Andre Ellington - ARI | vs. SF |
| 14 | C.J. Spiller - BUF | vs. SD |
| 15 | Stevan Ridley - NE | vs. Oak |
| 16 | Montee Ball - DEN | at Sea |
| 17 | Joique Bell - DET | vs. GB |
| 18 | Lamar Miller - MIA | vs. KC |
| 19 | Shane Vereen - NE | vs. Oak |
| 20 | Terrance West - CLE | vs. Bal |
| 21 | Donald Brown - SD | at Buf |
| 22 | Ahmad Bradshaw - IND | at Jac |
| 23 | Frank Gore - SF | at Ari |
| 24 | Reggie Bush - DET | vs. GB |
| 25 | Pierre Thomas - NO | vs. Min |
| 26 | Toby Gerhart - JAC | vs. Ind |
| 27 | Chris Johnson - NYJ | vs. Chi |
| 28 | Doug Martin - TB | at Atl |
| 29 | Khiry Robinson - NO | vs. Min |
| 30 | Bernard Pierce - BAL | at Cle |
| 31 | Chris Ivory - NYJ | vs. Chi |
| 32 | Fred Jackson - BUF | vs. SD |
| 33 | Trent Richardson - IND | at Jac |
| 34 | Jeremy Hill - CIN | vs. Ten |
| 35 | Danny Woodhead - SD | at Buf |
| 36 | Darren Sproles - PHI | vs. Was |
| 37 | Matt Asiata - MIN | at NO |
| 38 | Bobby Rainey - TB | at Atl |
| 39 | Steven Jackson - ATL | vs. TB |
| 40 | Darren McFadden - OAK | at NE |
| 41 | Jonathan Stewart - CAR | vs. Pit |
| 42 | Justin Forsett - BAL | at Cle |
| 43 | Isaiah Crowell - CLE | vs. Bal |
| 44 | DeAngelo Williams - CAR | vs. Pit |
| 45 | Shonn Greene - TEN | at Cin |
| 46 | Benny Cunningham - STL | vs. Dal |
| 47 | Jacquizz Rodgers - ATL | vs. TB |
| 48 | Carlos Hyde - SF | at Ari |
| 49 | Damien Williams - MIA | vs. KC |
| 50 | Alfred Blue - HOU | at NYG |
| 51 | Dexter McCluster - TEN | at Cin |
| 52 | Andre Williams - NYG | vs. Hou |
| 53 | Mike Tolbert - CAR | vs. Pit |
| 54 | C.J. Anderson - DEN | at Sea |
| 55 | Roy Helu - WAS | at Phi |
| 56 | Stepfan Taylor - ARI | vs. SF |
| 57 | Robert Turbin - SEA | vs. Den |
| 58 | Lance Dunbar - DAL | at StL |
| 59 | Bishop Sankey - TEN | at Cin |
| 60 | Devonta Freeman - ATL | vs. TB |
| 61 | Marcel Reece - OAK | at NE |
| 62 | James Starks - GB | at Det |
| 63 | LeGarrette Blount - PIT | at Car |
| 64 | Latavius Murray - OAK | at NE |
| 65 | Brandon Bolden - NE | vs. Oak |
| 66 | Denard Robinson - JAC | vs. Ind |
| 67 | Jerick McKinnon - MIN | at NO |
| 68 | Bilal Powell - NYJ | vs. Chi |
| 69 | Travaris Cadet - NO | vs. Min |
| 70 | Jordan Todman - JAC | vs. Ind |
- DeMarco Murray leads the league in rushing yards, after an impressive 167-yard performance against the Titans. Murray has more than justified the first or second round pick you used to draft him and with all the injuries to top-end running backs, he moves all the way up to second in this weeks rankings.
- The wheels are going to fall off, if Arian Foster keeps up his current workload. Foster has 59 touches through two games, which puts him on pace for 472 on the season, including 440 carries. Let last week's rash of injuries be a warning to you and make sure you trade Foster before it's too late. If you can't get a deal done before Sunday, the Texans do have a great matchup with a Giants team that will be without linebacker Jon Beason.
- Giovani Bernard is going to share the Bengals backfield with Jeremy Hill, but that shouldn't worry fantasy owners much. Bernard had 32 touches to Hill's 17 last week. This team is dedicated to running the ball, especially with A.J. Green out. Next up is the Titans defense that was shredded by the Cowboys running game in Week 2.
- I don't want to put Rashad Jennings in the top 10, but he's getting the bulk of the work in the Giants offense. Aside from his embarrassing fumble last week, Jennings is a good bet for 100 total yards and a touchdown most weeks.
- Until Jamaal Charles gets back on the field, Knile Davis is a low-end RB1 in fantasy. However, I am still surprised at some of the FAAB bids people made to acquire his services. In one of my leagues, a non-Charles owner dropped his entire $100 budget to get Davis. I support bold moves, but Charles isn't out for the season, just a few weeks.
- Zac Stacy appears to have fought off the Benny Cunningham threat and will get to further establish himself as the Rams lead back with a nice matchup against the Cowboys defense. He may move into my top 10 before Sunday.
- Andre Ellington still hasn't found the end zone, but the preseason injury scare appears to be behind him. If you are looking to handcuff, Stepfan Taylor is the back you want, as Jonathan Dwyer is the latest player dealing with legal issues.
- Shane Vereen took a backseat to Stevan Ridley last week, with Ridley earning 25 carries to Vereen's six. A big part of that appeared to be the game script, which saw the Patriots take a lead on the Vikings and never look back. With Oakland coming to town, Ridley should be in for another busy day.
- With the way the Browns are running the ball, there isn't much that would keep Terrance West out of my lineup. He's a solid RB2 in fantasy and should find the end zone again this week. Isaiah Crowell continues to be an intriguing flex option as well.
- Donald Brown takes over the Ryan Mathews role in the Chargers offense and while his matchup against the Bills this week is average, his next month includes games versus the Jaguars, Jets, Raiders, and Chiefs. Brown should spend a decent amount of time in the end zone between now and Halloween.
- This is it Toby Gerhart. I know your line isn't doing you any favors, but if you can't get it going against the Colts defense, you'll find yourself ranked outside of the top 30 going forward.