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Fantasy Football: Week 3 Running Back Rankings

By Alex Butler
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) is seen on the bench as the Cowboys play the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on September 18, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 5 | Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) is seen on the bench as the Cowboys play the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on September 18, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Injuries, breakout performances, and players filling new roles are inevitably going to be a part of Week 3 in fantasy football.

The running back position is beginning to thin now, as workhorse studs like Adrian Peterson are either gone for the majority of the season or out for the week. That means you will have tough choices of who to start at the running back slots on your fantasy football roster. Should you start an unknown talent, filling the shoes of a superstar or go with the consistency that comes with a proven name?

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Here are my top 30 running backs for this week. You can also look at my top add/drops for the week and visit other positional rankings, in the links below.

TOP SHELF

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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is battling an awful Chicago Bears team this week. The Bears will likely struggle offensively once again, without great quarterback play, favoring the Cowboys' ground-and-pound offensive strategy. Look for Elliott to see a plethora of carries once again and show off his explosiveness against a defense allowing the second-most touchdowns to running backs in 2016. I love New Orleans' Mark Ingram this week. Ingram is sorely in need of a 'get right game.' He has 21 carries for just 88 rushing yards through two games. He also has six catches for 46 receiving yards. The Falcons have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game so far this season and allowed the seventh-most per game in 2015. I like the Saints to win this game and mirror Week 1's performance more than its Week 2 blunder.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Will Week 3 be DeVonta Freeman's return to glory? He certainly has the match up for it. Freeman should also benefit from facing a bad defense, like his running back counterpart Ingram, in a Super Dome shootout. The Saints have allowed three rushing touchdowns to running backs through two games. Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy is another typically slow starter looking to get off the shelf. This week, Lacy and the Packers have a home match up against the Detroit Lions. I can easily see Aaron Rodgers conducting a solid offensive effort and Lacy running wild on the Lions, before the Packers' Week 4 bye. Lacy has just 111 rushing yards on 26 carries so far and has been nearly invisible in the Packers' passing game. I think the Lions allow its first rushing score of 2016 and don't improve a rushing defense, which allowed 129 yards on 21 carries last week to the Tennessee Titans.

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LONGSHOTS

New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings has dealt with wrist issues this week, but he has a great match up for Week 3. The Giants host the Washington Redskins. I expect the Redskins to concentrate on limited Eli Manning and the Giants' talented receiving crew. The Redskins have allowed the second most fantasy points per game through two weeks. Jennings has been unimpressive in 2016, rushing for 102 yards on 31 carries. He also has just three receptions. I see Jennings as a fringe RB2 and a flex starter in deep leagues this week. Carolina Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne could have been your big waiver-wire pick-up Wednesday morning. I think he gets plugged into Jonathan Stewart's role in the Panthers offense, giving him maximum opportunity to make plays in a home game against the Minnesota Vikings. Although some people view Fozzy Whittaker as the Panthers' new No. 1, I think the carries favor Artis-Payne, who could be a breakout star in the next few weeks. You might not want to risk throwing Artis-Payne in your line up until you see exactly how his role unfolds, but he could be a serviceable flex play in deep leagues.

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RANK NAME TEAM OPPONENT
1 Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago
2 Lamar Miller Houston Texans at New England
3 Mark Ingram New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta
4 David Johnson Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo
5 DeAngelo Williams Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati
6 Matt Forte New York Jets at Kansas City
7 Melvin Gordon San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis
8 Todd Gurley Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay
9 C.J. Anderson Denver Broncos at Cincinnati
10 DeMarco Murray Tennessee Titans at Detroit
11 LeSean McCoy Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona
12 Eddie Lacy Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit
13 Spencer Ware Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Jets
14 DeVonta Freeman Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans
15 LeGarrette Blount New England Patriots vs. Houston
16 Ryan Mathews Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh
17 Latavius Murray Oakland Raiders at Tennessee
18 Frank Gore Indianapolis Colts vs. San Diego
19 Theo Riddick Detroit Lions at Green Bay
20 Charles Sims Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles
21 Carlos Hyde San Francisco 49ers at Seattle
22 Tevin Coleman Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans
23 Isaiah Crowell Cleveland Browns at Miami
24 Christine Michael Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco
25 Jerick McKinnon Minnesota Vikings at Carolina
26 Jeremy Langford Chicago Bears at Dallas
27 Shane Vereen New York Giants vs. Washington
28 Cameron Artis-Payne Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota
29 Jeremy Hill Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver
30 Kenyan Drake Miami Dolphins vs. Cleveland
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