As one might guess, the Week 3 Running Back Rankings are missing a few key players this week. Jamaal Charles, Mark Ingram and Ryan Mathews are all expected out for several weeks with injuries. Then you still have the Adrian Peterson saga. After being deactivated Sunday, then reactivated, it now looks like AP will be out for several more weeks.
Earlier this morning, the Vikings placed Peterson on the Exempt/Commissioner's Permission list, which means he has to stay away from the team. This could be a long drawn-out process. Would it surprise anyone to see Peterson out for the year? The governor of Minnesota went as far as telling the team to suspend Peterson again. Looks like Matt Asiata owners will be keeping him in lineups for the near future.
Aside from Asiata, lets take a look at the other 39 running backs included in the Week 3 Running Back Rankings.
THE FABULOUS ONES (GUYS YOU MUST START)
1. LeSean McCoy (PHI) vs. WAS - Even with Darren Sproles heavily involved in the Eagles offense, McCoy is still getting his. And he's not bothered by the breather on the sideline that Sproles gives him. This is the best one-two punch in football right now.
2. DeMarco Murray (DAL) at STL - Murray has been on fire, averaging 5.6 yards a carry through 2 games. He faces a defense that got ran over by Bobby Rainey in Week 2.
3. Marshawn Lynch (SEA) vs. DEN - Lynch had a disappointing game against the Chargers after back spasms limited him to just 6 carries. Expect him to come back and be in rare form this week.
4. Arian Foster (HOU) at NYG - Foster now has 55 carries on the season, which will wear him out by the time half the season is over. The Texans need to get their star a break now and then, but it won't be enough to push Foster down below an RB1 ranking. Foster has already racked up back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.
5. Alfred Morris (WAS) at PHI - Kirk Cousins now gives the Redskins offense a better chance at more goal line opportunities. The Eagles Defense were trounced by both Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw Monday night, so look for another solid outing for Morris if the Redskins can keep it close.
6. Giovani Bernard (CIN) vs. TEN - The Bengals made good on their promise that Jeremy Hill would be more involved in the offense (15 carries), but Bernard is still getting enough touches between rushes and receptions that owners needn't worry about benching him.
7. Matt Forte (CHI) at NYJ - Coming off a 12 carry/21 yard outing against the 49ers, Forte has another difficult task coming up against the Jets. The Jets lead the league against fantasy running backs, giving up only 6 points a game.
8. Le'Veon Bell (PIT) at CAR - Bell is playing way above his preseason ADP as he has now accounted for 43 total touches and is quickly becoming a PPR force in the passing game with 11 receptions.
9. Knile Davis (KC) at MIA - Davis stepped in for an injured Jamaal Charles and the running game never missed a beat after Davis racked up 2 touchdowns against the Broncos. Andy Reid says his running game won't change, nor should it. Davis is the top fantasy pickup and a must start this week.
10. Eddie Lacy (GB) at DET - Coming off a Week 1 concussion, Lacy only averaged 3.3 yards a carry in Week 2 after shelling out a 2.8 in Week 1. The Lions aren't as stingy as the Jets, but the Packers need to start including Lacy in the goal line work. Better days are ahead.
11. Zac Stacy (STL) vs. DAL - The Week 2 version of Stacy (19 carries) is the one we know and love. Getting a touchdown against the Bucs was icing on the cake. It's a bit worrisome that he has yet to crack the 4.0 ypc mark, but it's hard sitting a guy who gets a majority of the carries in his backfield.
12. Andre Ellington (ARI) vs. SF - People will question why I have Ellington as an RB1 in 12 teamers, but look at the other options available? At least with Ellington, you know he's going to get 15-16 carries a game and be a big part of the passing game. His foot problem is troubling, but he's been able to play through it. This week's matchup will be a rough one, however.
THE QUESTIONABLE ONES (STARTERS THAT HAVE QUESTION MARKS)
13. Montee Ball (DEN) at SEA - Tough matchup, but you can't bench Ball.
14. Joique Bell (DET) vs. GB - Has been getting most of the carries, despite the presence of Bush.
15. C.J. Spiller (BUF) vs. SD - Has been playing ahead of Fred Jackson, but really needs a breakout game.
16. Rashad Jennings (NYG) vs. HOU
17. Shane Vereen (NE) vs. OAK
18. Frank Gore (SF) at ARI
19. Stevan Ridley (NE) vs. OAK - I don't believe that the Ridley we saw last week is the one that we'll see again in Week 3.
20. Terrance West (CLE) vs. BAL
21. Reggie Bush (DET) vs. GB
22. Chris Johnson (NYJ) vs. CHI - He's getting a plethora of snaps, but he needs to do something with them while he is splitting with Chris Ivory.
23. Khiry Robinson (NO) vs. MIN - Some have Robinson lower, but he's the workhorse now that Mark Ingram is out.
24. Lamar Miller (MIA) vs. KC - Miller gets the last RB2 spot because there really is no other competition behind him for snaps.
THE BARGAIN BIN (WHERE SOME ITEMS ARE GREAT,
BUT THERE ARE ITEMS WE HATE)
25. Ahmad Bradshaw (IND) at JAC
26. Pierre Thomas (NO) vs. MIN
27. Donald Brown (SD) at BUF
28. Darren Sproles (PHI) vs. WAS
29. Bernard Pierce (BAL) at CLE
30 Doug Martin (TB) at ATL Q
31. Toby Gerhart (JAC) vs. IND
32. Christopher Ivory (NYJ) vs. CHI
33. Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. SD
34. Matt Asiata (MIN) at NO
35. Steven Jackson (ATL) vs. TB
36. Bobby Rainey (TB) at ATL
37. Shonn Greene (TEN) at CIN
38. Danny Woodhead (SD) at BUF
39. Trent Richardson (IND) at JAC
40. Jeremy Hill (CIN) vs. TEN