Fantasy Football Forbes List: Week 3 Running Back Rankings

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Week 2 is in the books.  Chris Johnson owners everywhere are throwing their empty beer bottles at walls, and Jamaal Charles owners are just crushing them over their heads.  But there is no crying in football, or fantasy football, or any derivative of football.  Unless you're this kid...

 

If you're 2-0, props to you my friends.  Hopefully you were able to sell high on your roster's surprises and bring in some real fantasy studs that have been duds to this point (Chris Johnson, Antonio Gates).  If you're 0-2, all hope is not lost.  Work the waiver wire.  Swing some 2-1 trades to get that weekly lineup up to par.  And of course, check the weekly rankings to see who to start and sit.

The rankings are for PPR formats.  Feel free to hit my partner and me () up on Twitter with standard league questions, or any other questions you may have.  You can also use and abuse the comments section below as well or shoot us an .

Friday Update

• Peyton Hillis suddenly appeared on the injury report with an illness.  He'll be fine to go on Sunday, and is still a top 10 play.
• Arian Foster is shaping up to be a game-time decision, but he's really not worth starting with Ben Tate playing so well.  Fantasy owners should actually root for a week off to get him healthy.  Start Tate if you have him.
• Steven Jackson is also set for a game-time decision, but against a stout Baltimore defense don't trust him for production if he does go.  With Caddy also questionable, the Rams backfield should be avoided should Jackson be out.
• Felix Jones should play, but it's hard to trust him with a dinged up shoulder.  Search for better options on your lineup.  He's a scary flex play this week.
• Beanie Wells is also shaping up to be a game-time decision.  I wouldn't trust anyone else in the Cardinals backfield if he sits.

 

Quick Hits - Chris Johnson owners, I feel your pain.  A similar slump occurred last year in weeks 12 and 13, just before playoff time.  With Britt becoming a huge threat on the outside, teams will no longer be able to simply key on CJ(insert number here)K.  Hopefully you bought low now, because his stock will rocket after this matchup with the Broncos...Rashard Mendenhall is also off to a fairly slow start, but there's a good chance he has multiple trips to the endzone in Indianapolis...Matt Forte is the only real receiving threat on the Bears.  With 15 receptions through two weeks, and an order from Lovie Smih to Mike Martz to run the ball more, Forte will have another solid week...Peyton Hillis isn't putting up spectacular numbers, but quantity wins out in his situation as he's always a candidate for 30 touches (of the football, ya' creeps)...Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews are both solid RB2 candidates against a sieve Chiefs' front 7.  Tolbert is questionable with a calf injury, but all signs point towards him playing...Ahmad Bradshaw is off to slow start, but this is his chance to get it going.  The Eagles are 30th in rush defense through two games, giving up a generous 5.3ypc clip to opposing running backs.  Brandon Jacobs is also a nice flex play here...James Starks has firmly taken hold of the Packers' backfield, and should without a doubt be in your lineups...Beanie Wells popped up on the injury report Thursday (surprise, surprise).  Seattle has a surprisingly stellar run defense, so don't expect huge numbers this week...Jonathan Stewart has outplayed DeAngelo Williams to this point.  Will it last?  For now, I'd give Stewart the nod in PPR leagues...Arian Foster is questionable, but it sounds like he'll sit this one.  If he plays, he's no more than a flex.  Ben Tate is shaping up as a solid RB1 play...Knowshon Moreno is due back from his hamstring injury, but I have a hard time starting he or McGahee if they're splitting touches...Reggie Bush once again shit all over fantasy owners dreams.  There was nothing to explain him being left on the sideline in favor of Daniel Thomas.  Then we finally learned on Wednesday that Bush had a groin injury that was nagging him.  Expect him to carry the torch this week...I'm really high on Danny Woodhead this week.  SMALL SAMPLE SIZE ALERT: he had 16 touches versus the Bills last year in week 16, and I expect they'll get him the rock more with Hernandez out.  He shapes up as a legitimate flex play for me this week.

 

Rank	Player	Opponent	Status
1	Ray Rice, BAL	@STL
2	Chris Johnson, TEN	DEN	P (Ribs)
3	Adrian Peterson, MIN	DET
4	Darren McFadden, OAK	NYJ	P (Shoulder)
5	Rashard Mendenhall, PIT	@IND
6	Matt Forte, CHI	GB
7	LeSean McCoy, PHI	NYG
8	Jahvid Best, DET	@MIN
9	Peyton Hillis, CLE	MIA	Q (Illness)
10	Michael Turner, ATL	@TB
11	Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX	@CAR
12	Ben Tate, HOU	@NO	P (Back)
13	Ryan Mathews, SD	KC
14	Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG	@PHI
15	Frank Gore, SF	@CIN
16	James Starks, GB	@CHI
17	Fred Jackson, BUF	NE
18	Mike Tolbert, SD	KC	P (Calf)
19	Shonn Greene, NYJ	@OAK
20	Tim Hightower, WAS	@DAL
21	LeGarrette Blount, TB	ATL
22	Mark Ingram, NO	HOU
23	Brandon Jacobs, NYG	@PHI
24	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	JAX
25	Beanie Wells, ARI	@SEA	Q (Hamstring)
26	Danny Woodhead, NE	@BUF
27	DeAngelo Williams, CAR	JAX
28	Felix Jones, DAL	WAS	Q (Shoulder)
29	Steven Jackson, STL	BAL	Q (Quad)
30	Reggie Bush, MIA	@CLE	P (Groin)
31	Cedric Benson, CIN	SF
32	Darren Sproles, NO	HOU
33	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE	@BUF
34	Arian Foster, HOU	@NO	Q (Hamstring)
35	Knowshon Moreno, DEN	@TEN	Q (Hamstring)
36	Dexter McCluster, KC	@SD
37	Joseph Addai, IND	PIT
38	Daniel Thomas, MIA	@CLE
39	Roy Helu, WAS	@DAL
40	C.J. Spiller, BUF	NE
41	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	ARI
42	Willis McGahee, DEN	@TEN
43	Pierre Thomas, NO	HOU
44	Earnest Graham , TB	ATL
45	Thomas Jones, KC	@SD
46	Michael Bush, OAK	NYJ
47	LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ	@OAK
48	Delone Carter, IND	PIT
49	Ryan Grant, GB	@CHI
50	Chester Taylor , ARI	@SEA	If Beanie Out
51	Cadillac Williams, STL	BAL	Q (Hamstring)
52	Isaac Redman, PIT	@IND
53	Tashard Choice, DAL	WAS
54	Deji Karim, JAX	@CAR
55	Javon Ringer, TEN	DEN
56	Demarco Murray, DAL	WAS
57	Marion Barber, CHI	GB	Q (Calf)
58	Justin Forsett, SEA	ARI
59	Jason Snelling, ATL	@TB
60	Jerome Harrison, DET	@MIN
61	Montario Hardesty, CLE	MIA
62	Toby Gerhart, MIN	DET
63	Ricky Williams, BAL	@STL
64	Bernard Scott, CIN	SF
65	Ronnie Brown, PHI	NYG
66	Marcel Reece , OAK	NYJ
67	Johnny White, BUF	NE
68	John Kuhn , GB	@CHI
69	Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL	@TB
70	Kendall Hunter, SF	@CIN
71	Leon Washington , SEA	ARI
72	Keiland Williams , DET	@MIN