September 25, 2016

Anthony C takes a look at the Week 3 NFL running backs (RB) depth charts for each NFL team and analyzes the potential value of starters and backups alike for your 2016 fantasy football squad.

Week 2 of the 2016 NFL season was devastating to the running back position around the league. Players to the likes of Adrian Peterson, Ameer Abdullah and Danny Woodhead all suffered season-ending, or at best, long-term injuries that will linger until the tail end of the year while Doug Martin, Jonathan Stewart and Arian Foster should all return sooner rather than later.

The absence of those household names not only shakes up the depth chart of their respective teams, but it also opens up the door for the lesser-valued talent to step up. Dwayne Washington, Matt Asiata, Kenyan Drake, Cameron Artis-Payne and Dexter McCluster should all be monitored on the fantasy waiver wire as their roles should certainly increase the coming weeks. Below are the re-tooled running back depth charts for all 32 teams across the NFL.

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2016 Running Back Depth Charts for Week 2

AFC East

 
Arian Foster suffered his first setback of the regular season last Sunday when he sustained a groin injury early on in the matchup against the Patriots. The oft-injured rusher could be sidelined for multiple games which will leave a gaping hole in Miami's backfield. Ajayi will likely step into the starting job, but could lose touches to emerging rookie Kenyan Drake. Upon Foster's return, Ajayi could fade out of fantasy relevance while Drake could continue to have a change of pace role throughout the year.

 
AFC North

 
Perhaps there is a changing of the guard at the running back position in Cincinnati. Both Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard garnered an equivalent amount of touches in Week 2 with 14, but the latter (Bernard) out-gained the former 117-to-59 and also scored a touchdown. Bernard was always considered the handcuff to Hill. However, for fantasy purposes, Bernard appears to be the better start through the first two weeks of the 2016 campaign.

Baltimore's backfield continues to be in a state of instability without clarity in the short-term future. It appears that Justin Forsett is barely holding on to his starting job as Terrance West is just about seeing the same amount of touches. Both players could be on the outside looking in when Kenneth Dixon returns from his MCL injury in the next few weeks.

 
AFC South

 
Jacksonville's backfield appears to be the only one to monitor in the AFC South heading into Week 3. Chris Ivory is finally practicing and could make his 2016 debut this Sunday, leaving an unproductive T.J. Yeldon on the back burner of fantasy relevance. In two starts as the primary ball-carrier, Yeldon is averaging 33.5 YPG and 2.4 YPC.

AFC West

 
The Chargers seem to be getting stung yet again by the injury bug on the offensive side of the football as was the case for the past few seasons. After losing Danny Woodhead in Week 2, San Diego signed Dexter McCluster. The all-purpose back is familiar with offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt's system and is expected to be active on Sunday. He should make an immediate impact in PPR scoring formats as he will likely take over Woodhead's role as the team's primary receiver out of the backfield. McCluster should be added and stashed on the back end of a fantasy bench in case he goes off on an offense that warrants his skill set.

Kansas City's backfield remains up in the air as well as Jamaal Charles' upcoming game day status. Prior to Week 2, reports indicated that Charles would make his 2016 debut in this week, but Andy Reid has yet to confirm those rumors. If Charles is inactive for the third consecutive contest, Spencer Ware will draw the start with Charcandrick West assuming his change of pace role.

 
NFC East

 
Rashad Jennings injured his hand/ thumb in Week 2 and was out-touched by Shane Vereen 17-to-15 in the contest. However, don't read all too much into it, Jennings is New York's starter. Monitor Jennings' injury status in the upcoming matchup against the Redskins as Vereen could once again receive the bulk of the workload if his ailment lingers.

 
NFC North

 
The backfield's of NFC North teams are the most effected from Week 2's injury outbreak. Let's start with the Vikings. Adrian Peterson was lost until December, if not for the entire season and Jerick McKinnon will get the first shot at the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Matt Asiata should also be in the conversation in Minnesota as well. Asiata broke the 1000-total yard and 10-touchdown plateaus while McKinnon played second fiddle in 2014 during Peterson's last long-term injury absence. Minnesota also signed Ronnie Hillman as insurance, but he should remain off of the fantasy radar for the time being.

After getting off to a tremendous start to their running game, the Lions lost Ameer Abdullah for an extended amount of time in Week 2. Theo Riddick moved up to the No. 1 back on the depth chart on a team that relies on a two-back system. In comes Dwayne Washington. The rookie is expected to receive an expanded role on the offense and could merge as the early-down back as the season progresses warranting a waiver wire add for fantasy football purposes.

Non-injury related. Jeremy Langford has been unimpressive through the first two weeks in Chicago and is in danger of losing his job to Jordan Howard. On a struggling Bears team that is in need of offensive production, a change could be in the air to their backfield to give the unit a jump-start in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys.

 
NFC South

 
In Tampa Bay, Doug Martin is expected to miss the next handful of games with a hamstring injury which opens up an opportunity for Charles Sims to be the featured back. As Martin has struggled thus far early on in the 2016 campaign, Sims could certainly carve out a larger role for himself for the long-term and open up a by-committee approach to Tampa Bay's ground game as the season progresses.

The Atlanta Falcons will continue their RBBC approach in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints. Devonta Freeman appears to be the primary rusher as he wasn't targeted in the passing game in Week 2 while Tevin Coleman was seemingly the all-purpose back on the team. Both Freeman and Coleman should be considered risky, boom or bust options moving forward until one of the two backs emerges as the more reliable fantasy option.

 
NFC West

 
Seattle's backfield will continue their unreliability entering Week 3's matchup against the 49ers. Thomas Rawls drew the start last Sunday, but to no avail. Rawls not only underperformed but he also suffered a leg injury that is not expected to keep him sidelined this week. However, it opened up the door for Christine Michael to remain fantasy relevant. Due to Rawls' struggles and setbacks, Michael could garner the majority of the workload in Seattle's upcoming matchup as well as for the unforeseeable future if Rawls does not begin to showcase the player that he was in 2015.

Anthony Cervino is a primary contributor for Rotoballer and a lead NFL News Desk writer. For additional content, visit his archive or follow him on Twitter @theRealnflguru.