2012 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Week 3

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Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.

Opportunity knocked for Andre Brown, who got the start for the Giants Thursday night against Carolina in place of an injured Ahmad Bradshaw (neck), and the fourth-year back from North Carolina State certainly answered. Brown piled up 113 yards on the ground and two touchdowns against the Panthers, leading the Giants to a convincing 36-7 victory in the process. Like Brown, Michael Bush is in a similar position as will see an increased workload for the Bears against St. Louis with Matt Forte ruled out because of an ankle injury. Although it's possible, it's highly unlikely that either Brown or Bush will have the impact that C.J. Spiller has had since assuming the starting role in Buffalo following Fred Jackson's injury. Spiller is currently leading the league in rushing (292 yards) and should have another productive game this Sunday against Cleveland. Maurice Jones-Drew and Adrian Peterson also appear to be fully reinstated as the starter for their respective teams. Jones-Drew is probably the safer play this week, however, as Peterson will test his surgically repaired knee with a heavier load against a San Francisco defense that's given up a total of 127 yards rushing so far. Willis McGahee, who had 113 yards on the ground against Atlanta on Monday night, may also find the going a little tougher this week against an equally stingy (144 yards rushing in two games) Houston defense. Another situation that bears watching is who gets the most carries in Kansas City. Last week both Peyton Hillis and Shaun Draughn got more attempts than Jamaal Charles, who limped off of the field after suffering what turned out to be a knee bruise during the Chiefs' loss to Buffalo. The good news for Charles owners is it doesn't appear to be anything serious, especially considering the Chiefs have a date in New Orleans (last in NFL in rush defense) this Sunday.

2012 NFL Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings — Running Backs


Rk	Player	Team	OPPONENT
1	Arian Foster	HOU	at DEN
2	Ray Rice	BAL	vs. NE
3	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at ARI
4	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	at IND
5	C.J. Spiller	BUF	at CLE
6	DeMarco Murray	DAL	vs. TB
7	Darren McFadden	OAK	vs. PIT
8	Frank Gore	SF	at MIN
9	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	vs. GB (Mon.)
10	Michael Bush	CHI	vs. STL
11	Trent Richardson	CLE	vs. BUF
12	Stevan Ridley	NE	at BAL
13	Reggie Bush	MIA	vs. NYJ
14	Doug Martin	TB	at DAL
15	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	CIN	at WAS
16	Adrian Peterson	MIN	vs. SF
17	Ryan Mathews	SD	vs. ATL
18	Darren Sproles	NO	vs. KC
19	Chris Johnson	TEN	vs. DET
20	Jamaal Charles	KC	at NO
21	Steven Jackson	STL	at CHI
22	Andre Brown	NYG	at CAR (Thurs.)
23	Alfred Morris	WAS	vs. CIN
24	Willis McGahee	DEN	vs. HOU
25	Michael Turner	ATL	at SD
26	Shonn Greene	NYJ	at MIA
27	Peyton Hillis	KC	at NO
28	Donald Brown	IND	vs. JAC
29	Mark Ingram	NO	vs. KC
30	Cedric Benson	GB	at SEA (Mon.)
31	Beanie Wells	ARI	vs. PHI
32	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	vs. NYG (Thurs.)
33	Ben Tate	HOU	at DEN
34	Pierre Thomas	NO	vs. KC
35	Kevin Smith	DET	at TEN
36	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	vs. NYG (Thurs.)
37	Jonathan Dwyer	PIT	at OAK
38	Isaac Redman	PIT	at OAK
39	Mikel Leshoure	DET	at TEN
40	Ryan Williams	ARI	vs. PHI
41	David Wilson	NYG	at CAR (Thurs.)
42	Dexter McCluster	KC	at NO
43	Daryl Richardson	STL	at CHI
44	Jacquizz Rodgers	ATL	at SD
45	Lamar Miller	MIA	vs. NYJ
46	Toby Gerhart	MIN	vs. SF
47	Kendall Hunter	SF	at MIN
48	Jackie Battle	SD	vs. ATL

Injury News:
Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG: Did not play Thursday night against Carolina because of a neck injury.
Jamaal Charles, KC: Expected to play on Sunday in New Orleans after leaving last week's game due to a knee bruise on his surgically repaired left knee (ACL tear last season).
Jonathan Dwyer, PIT: Dealing with a toe injury, missed practice on Wednesday, but practiced fully on Thursday in preparation for Sunday's game in Oakland.
Matt Forte, CHI: Will not play Sunday against St. Louis because of an ankle injury.
Steven Jackson, STL: Missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday because of a groin injury, but he is still hopeful of being able to play on Sunday against Chicago.
Ryan Mathews, SD: Participated in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, including contact drills. Appears to be on track to season debut Sunday against Atlanta after missing just about all of the preseason and the first two games because of a broken collarbone.
Jonathan Stewart, CAR: Did not play Thursday night game against the Giants because of an ankle/toe injury.