Empty the Bench

Last week’s fantasy darlings Franklin Delano Gore and Chris Johnson should find the row a little tougher to hoe this week as the 49ers head into Minnesota and the Titans travel to the Jets. Those are formidable defenses, no question, but you would be out of your gourd to consider benching these guys regardless of matchup. Ever. They’ve cemented themselves as tier-one studs.

Speaking of tier one, we expect slow-starting first-round picks Matt Forte and DeAngelo Williams to get the ball rolling in a serious way on the road this week. And if Clinton Portis can’t get it done this week at Detroit he’s no longer an every-week starter, plain and simple.

The situation that bears the closest monitoring is Dallas, where Marion Barber has gone from almost certainly out to “good to go” and back in the span of hours. You’ll want to pay particularly close attention as they play on Monday night, forcing you to make a tough decision Sunday morning. If Barber plays he’ll be limited, but if he’s out Felix Jones becomes an exciting RB2 or RB3 option. Also keep an eye on New Orleans, where Pierre Thomas has been gifted a chance to reclaim his starting gig and would love nothing more than to put a stamp on it, but his health remains a potentially severely limiting factor.

See also:
- Week 3 QB Rankings
- Week 3 WR Rankings
- Week 3 TE Ranks
- Week 3 DEF Ranks

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings vs. SF
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars @ HOU
3. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears @ SEA
4. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ NYJ
5. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons @ NE
6. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers @ MIN
7. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers @ DAL
8. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills vs. NO
9. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans vs. JAC
10. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins @ SD
11. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins @ DET
12. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams vs. GB
13. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles vs. KC (Check Status)
14. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants @ TB
15. Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers vs. MIA

Running back rankings 16 through 36, after the jump…

16. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints @ BUF (Check Status)
17. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders vs. DEN
18. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens vs. CLE
19. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers @ STL
20. Marion Barber/Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys vs. CAR (Check Barber’s Status)
21. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions vs. WAS
22. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints @ BUF
23. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens vs. CLE
24. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals vs. PIT
25. Leon Washington, New York Jets vs. TEN
26. Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. TEN
27. Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals vs. IND
28. Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. NYG
29. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts @ ARZ
30. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers @ DAL
31. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts @ ARZ
32. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. NYG
33. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos @ OAK
34. Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CIN
35. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs @ PHI
36. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins @ SD

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