National Football League

Fantasy Football: Week 3 Running Back Start 'Em or Sit 'Em

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:13 p.m. ET

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It’s week 3 of the fantasy football season and there is no doubt that with the rash of RB injuries that occurred last week, you’re scrambling to figure out who to start and who to sit so that you have the best chance of winning.

Here is this week’s RB start/sit.

Fantasy Football Week 3 – START THESE RBs…

Sep 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) runs the ball ahead of Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) and defensive tackle Malik Jackson (90) during the second quarter of the game at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Melvin Gordon, SD (@ IND)

There’s no question that Gordon is the man now in San Diego and so far, this year, he’s looked like a first-round running back should look like. Last week after Danny Woodhead went down with a knee injury, Gordon carried the rock 24 times for 102 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville. He’s an easy start this week against the Colts, who have given up more fantasy points to running backs (34.5 PPG) than any other team in the league.

Matt Forte, NYJ (@ KC)

You know what makes for great fantasy football stats? Volume. And more volume. And that is exactly what Forte is getting it. For whatever reason, the Jets don’t want Bilal Powell to touch the ball. Powell had 1 catch for 1 yard, and 1 rush for 1 yard. Forte had 30 carries for 100 yards and 3 TDs, adding 2 catches for 9 yards through the air. Forte’s YPC might not be very good, but he’s the red zone back and getting plenty of work in a pretty sweet offense. Ride this wave for as long as you can, because it has to end sometime.

DeMarco Murray, TEN (vs. OAK)

Murray is proving that his excellent preseason wasn’t a fluke as he has been one of the top runners in fantasy football to start the 2016 season, and most of his production has come as a receiver out of the backfield (21.1 points), which you’ve got to love in PPR leagues. Fantasy owners should deploy him against the Raiders, who have surrendered an average of 20 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs after two weeks.

Theo Riddick, DET (@ GB)

If the game script goes the way it should, the Lions should be throwing a lot in this matchup while playing from behind, which obviously benefits Riddick. His role should be expanded now with Abdullah out, and he’s already had 18 carries this season after just 43 all of last year. Dwayne Washington will also replace Abdullah and should be the one at the goal line, but Riddick is a must-start running back in all PPR leagues. He has nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets for the season, and he has 13 catches for 86 yards and a touchdown in his past three meetings with the Packers.

Fantasy Football Week 3 – SIT THESE RBs…

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) runs the ball in the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Green Bay Packers won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Eddie Lacy, GB (vs. DET)

It’s time to stop pretending Fat Eddie/Skinny Eddie/Young Eddie/Jordy Nelson Eddie/Diary-Free Eddie are going to be 2013 Eddie. He’s going to average just over 13 rushes a game (he’ll have big games here and there), have 4.1 YPC, catch 1-2 passes a game at best, and maybe score here and there. But he’s just not going to be someone you can depend on as a top 24 or even top 30 RB at this point. He has 111 yards, 1 catch, and 0 TDs through 2 games. His matchup against the Lions is enticing this week, but you really probably have better a better option like Christine Michael or Charles Sims.

Carlos Hyde, SF (@ SEA)

After a huge game in week 1 against the Rams (23.3 fantasy points), he was a major disappointment last week in Carolina, and the schedule isn’t going to get better this week with a date with Seattle scheduled for Sunday. Most No. 1 runners have not fared well in the Pacific Northwest over the last year, as just three have scored a rushing touchdown in that time. So far this season the Seahawks have given up the 3rd fewest fantasy points to running backs so this is a good week to keep Hyde on the bench.

Jeremy Hill, CIN (vs. DEN)

Hopefully you didn’t draft Hill too early this year hoping that he would return to his 2014 rookie form because it looks like, at least for now, he’s going to be a regular member of the sit’em club. Over his first two games Hill has only 53 rushing yards and last week in Pittsburgh, Giovani Bernard had more snaps (47) than Hill (29) and appeared to be the better back. Next on the schedule is a difficult home game against the Broncos, which means it will be more of a Bernard game than a Hill game.

Jerick McKinnon, MIN (@ CAR)

This one might be hard because everyone will want to play their shiny new toy, especially if you paid a hefty chunk of your FAAB budget to get McKinnon. But while McKinnon is uber-talented, it’s very likely that he is going to share the load with Matt Asiata until Adrian Peterson gets back. Asiata will also be the goal line back which limits McKinnon’s scoring potential. The Vikings are also playing in Carolina this week where the Panthers defense is only allowing 3.9 yards per carry.

Best of luck during Week 3 of the NFL Season!