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Week 3 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 3 running backs rankings, to help determine your WR starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).

Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some WR 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.

You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.

Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.

 

Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs

RotoBaller
Staff Ranks
Player Name
(Team - Position)
Zach Wilkens
Rankings
Ed Gorelik
Rankings
1 Le'Veon Bell PIT at STL 1 1
2 Adrian Peterson MIN vs. SD 2 3
3 Jamaal Charles KC at GB 3 4
4 Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. CHI 7 2
5 Matt Forte CHI at SEA 4 8
6 Latavius Murray OAK at CLE 9 5
7 Mark Ingram NO at CAR 8 7
8 Justin Forsett BAL vs. CIN 5 12
9 LeSean McCoy BUF at MIA 6 11
10 Eddie Lacy GB vs. KC 16 9
11 Frank Gore IND at TEN 17 10
12 Lamar Miller MIA vs. BUF 14 13
13 Dion Lewis NE vs. JAC 24 6
14 DeMarco Murray PHI at NYJ 10 21
15 Shane Vereen NYG vs. WAS 15 18
16 Jeremy Hill CIN at BAL 12 22
17 Christopher Ivory NYJ vs. PHI 11 24
18 Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. NO 20 15
19 Danny Woodhead SD at MIN 18 17
20 C.J. Anderson DEN at DET 13 23
21 C.J. Spiller NO at CAR 19 19
22 Giovani Bernard CIN at BAL 28 14
23 Devonta Freeman ATL at DAL 27 16
24 Carlos Hyde SF at ARI 25 20
25 Melvin Gordon SD at MIN 22 25
26 Ameer Abdullah DET vs. DEN 23 27
27 T.J. Yeldon JAC at NE 21 32
28 Doug Martin TB at HOU 26 30
29 Darren Sproles PHI at NYJ 29 31
30 Joseph Randle DAL vs. ATL 33 28
31 Alfred Morris WAS at NYG 32 29
32 Matt Jones WAS at NYG 36 26
33 Lance Dunbar DAL vs. ATL 30 36
34 Isaiah Crowell CLE vs. OAK 35 33
35 David Johnson ARI vs. SF 34 34
36 Tre Mason STL vs. PIT 31 39
37 Bishop Sankey TEN vs. IND 37 35
38 LeGarrette Blount NE vs. JAC 39 37
39 Benny Cunningham STL vs. PIT 38 42
40 James Starks GB vs. KC 43 40
41 Ronnie Hillman DEN at DET 44 41
42 Duke Johnson CLE vs. OAK 42 44
43 Arian Foster HOU vs. TB 38
44 Rashad Jennings NYG vs. WAS 40 49
45 Theo Riddick DET vs. DEN 46 45
46 Joique Bell DET vs. DEN 41 60
47 Karlos Williams BUF at MIA 45 48
48 Chris Johnson ARI vs. SF 53 43
49 Dexter McCluster TEN vs. IND 56 46
50 Chris Polk HOU vs. TB 47 55
51 Todd Gurley STL vs. PIT 47
52 Jonathan Grimes HOU vs. TB 48 65
53 Damien Williams MIA vs. BUF 49 62
54 Ryan Mathews PHI at NYJ 52 50
55 Bilal Powell NYJ vs. PHI 50 51
56 Charles Sims TB at HOU 51 57
57 DeAngelo Williams PIT at STL 57 52
58 Darren McFadden DAL vs. ATL 59 53
59 Fred Jackson SEA vs. CHI 60 54
60 Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL vs. CIN 54 56
61 Knile Davis KC at GB 55 63
62 Alfred Blue HOU vs. TB 61 58
63 Bernard Pierce JAC at NE 58
64 Andre Williams NYG vs. WAS 62 59
65 Khiry Robinson NO at CAR 61
66 Mike Davis SF at ARI 63
67 Jeremy Langford CHI at SEA 64
68 Josh Robinson IND at TEN 64
69 Alonzo Harris GB vs. KC 65
70 Javorius Allen BAL vs. CIN 66
71 Marcel Reece OAK at CLE 67
72 Reggie Bush SF at ARI 68
73 Terrance West TEN vs. IND 69
74 Andre Ellington ARI vs. SF 70
75 Anthony Dixon BUF at MIA 71
76 Terron Ward ATL at DAL 72
77 Denard Robinson JAC at NE 73
78 Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. SD 74
79 Mike Tolbert CAR vs. NO 75

 
 

Week 3 Quick Hit Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis

By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)

Looking through my top 10 RBs this week, I don’t differ from the consensus significantly at all, but I would like to touch on a couple players. First, I have Matt Forte at RB6. He has a tough matchup against the Seahawks, and the Bears will be rolling with Jimmy Clausen under center, which means they will struggle to move the ball all day long - unless Matt Forte can carry the team on his back, that is.

Forte will probably get 20+ touches this week. Early on look for them to run the ball as much as possible. When they inevitably fall behind Jimmy Clausen will probably have trouble finding open receivers downfield, which means more screens to Forte. This is a tough matchup but Forte can handle it. James Starks did rush for 95 yards last week after all.

Let’s also discuss Jeremy Hill. He got benched last week but the Bengals assure us they aren’t demoting him from the lead back role. I believe them, because I think Hill is a special player. I have him at RB10 this week, which is perhaps an acknowledgment that the split may shift a little bit in favor of Giovani Bernard but I still expect Hill to see 16-18 touches and any goal line looks. You are definitely starting him.

I am a little low on Latavius Murray this week even though I still see him as a good start at RB12. While he hasn’t had a bad game so far (80+ total yards in both games) he hasn’t shined either. I’m expecting a fairly close game between the Browns and the Raiders so expect similar touch totals to last week (15 carries, three receptions).

The Browns shut down Bishop Sankey after a strong first week but also allowed 98 rush yards to Dexter McCluster after getting beat bad by Chris Ivory the week before. The jury is still out on this Browns defense,and Murray will be a good indicator for what to expect going forward.

Another running back I am low on is Dion Lewis. I certainly feel like I am falling into a bit of a narrative trap here, but I do find it hard to trust Patriots running backs. I think the Patriots especially play to their opponents weaknesses, and last week pounding the ball with LeGarrette Blount didn’t make sense against the Bills. The Jags are a respectable defense but I think there is a very good chance we see a lot more of Blount. I am low on Lewis at RB28 and right around the consensus on Blount at RB32. This is solely the result of my distrust of the situation.

Another tough situation is the Washington Redskins backfield. It doesn’t help that they have a short week with a Thursday game vs the Giants. Matt Jones looked like a stud last week but this is very much a timeshare with no clear lead at this point. In fact if I had to guess I’d say Alfred Morris is still the leader if everything goes according to the Redskins plans. Of course, if Matt Jones gets a few carries and is getting seven or eight yards with those touches they will start using him over Morris once again. Beware of the situation. I prefer Alf at RB23 with Matt Jones at RB35 but mostly I am hoping we get more clarity on the situation this week.

 

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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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RANKINGS
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RP

RANKINGS

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