Running Backs

Start 'Em:
Running Backs Who Will Outperform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Matt Forte @ SEA
Fantasy owners should be drooling over Forte’s Week 3 matchup despite 2 straight bad games to start the season. Frank Gore ran all over the Seahawks last week (207 yards on just 16 carries) and the Bears know they need to get their featured back going. Seattle has already given up 2 touchdown runs of 79+ yards and their pass defense has been good, meaning you should start Forte with complete confidence.

Brandon Jacobs @ TB
The Giants running game has not lived up to expectations…yet. A timely trip to Tampa could be just what the doctor ordered for Brandon Jacobs and Co. to get back on track. The Bucs rush D is easily in the bottom third of the league, dominated by Dallas in Week 1 and torched by Fred Jackson last week. Look for Jacobs to get back to his bruising ways between the tackles to find pay dirt on Sunday.

Derrick Ward vs. NYG
Derrick Ward is my ‘long shot of the week,’ but he’s got a couple of things going for him. The Giants run defense is giving up an average of 6.7 yards per carry and only the Browns have given up more TDs on the ground (5) than the G-Men (4). New York has allowed 6 runs of 20+ yards, worst in the NFL. Although he does give way to Cadillac Williams, Ward will have some extra juice going against his former mates and I like his chances of making a difference in both the running and the passing game.

McGahee faces a Browns defense that can't stop the run.

Willis McGahee vs. CLE
This is a great matchup for the Ravens running game this week at home against Cleveland. After 2 games the Browns have shown no signs of being able to stop the run, as evidenced by mostly Adrian Peterson, Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno. Ray Rice can make an impact too, but I have to give credit to McGahee for making the most of his touches. His 2-game totals: 25 carries, 123 yards, 3 rushing TDs and 6 catches for 41 yards and a receiving TD. He should find the end zone yet again.

Tim Hightower vs. IND
The Colts continue to display a stingy pass defense which is great news for Hightower owners because they also have difficulty against the run. Ronnie Brown (and Ricky Williams, to an extent) ran wild against Indy on Monday night and only 2 teams have allowed more rushing yards than the Colts (Houston, Cleveland). Hightower has been effective this year and is due for another 15-20 touches plus goal line duty this week.

Bench 'Em:
Running Backs Who Will Under Perform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Thomas Jones vs. TEN
The Jets share of backfield carries has not remained consistent enough during the first two weeks to truly rely on Jones. He made the most of his twenty Week 1 touches, but last week his fifteen touches were 1 less than Kings of Leon (Washington). Washington is the better receiver of the two and shows more explosiveness when he has the ball. Still, Jones will have his moments, but he will find rough sledding against the Titans rush D, which has allowed just 1.9 yards per carry and 49.5 yards per game.

Jamal Lewis/James Davis @ BAL
Davis’s name has been added here in case Jamal, who missed Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring issue, can’t go. It goes without saying that Lewis will do all he can to be on the field against his former team, but he and Davis are better off on your bench, regardless of who gets the carries. The Ravens have given up just 82 rushing yards this season, and the Browns as a team have only garnered 143 yards rushing through 2 games. It’s just not shaping up to be a productive day for the Cleveland backfield.

Joseph Addai @ ARI
The Cardinals surprising run defense appears to be legitimate. They have faced, and held in check, 2 elite backs in the first 2 weeks: 30 yards on 22 carries to Frank Gore, and 66 yards on 13 carries to Maurice Jones-Drew, who are both superior to Joseph Addai. Addai’s numbers weren’t good in Miami, but he only had 6 carries due to the ‘Fins ball control game plan. The bigger concern is the fact that backup Donald Brown stole some of his thunder; showcasing his own ability and toughness on a 15-yard 4th quarter TD run.

Darren McFadden vs. DEN
McFadden possesses the explosiveness that makes him difficult to bench, but you should at least consider alternate options if you have them. Denver’s rush defense has been surprisingly effective, allowing an average of 2.9 yards per carry and 70 yards per game, both numbers are in the top 10 among NFL teams. QB Jamarcus Russell’s inability to complete more than 36% of his passes really hurts McFadden as defenses can stack the line without the threat of getting burned deep.

Cedric Benson vs. PIT
Benson put me in my place last week to the tune of 141 yards on 29 carries and he has gotten off to a strong 2009 campaign. He will continue to get the lion’s share of carries out of the Bengals backfield, which is a plus for his owners, but this week he will have to face the tough defense of the Steelers. Pittsburgh is giving up an average of 65 yards per game to opposing runners, and both Chris Johnson and Matt Forte had trouble finding room to run in the first two weeks. It would be surprising if Benson did something dazzling.

Wide Receivers