Here is the Week 3 RB coach with my recommendations first and some relevant data you should be keeping an eye on when doing your research and making lineup decisions.

High-End Options

DeAngelo Williams – He continues to produce every single week and has one last week before LeVeon Bell returns.  The Steelers have no reason to hold him back even with his 64 touches in the first two games.  Williams has 303 total yards with 3 TD so far this season.  The Eagles defense has been solid this season but hasn’t faced a real offense at this point.  The price tag isn’t cheap but he has been as consistent as they come when he has gotten his chances.

David Johnson – No running back is even close to his 141 yards receiving this season.  Johnson is a big threat out of the backfield even though he hasn’t received many carries.  He has just 28 carries for 134 yards in the two games this season.  The Bills defense surrendered three rushing TD’s last week to Matt Forte.    Johnson has been productive even with just one TD this season.  Coach Bruce Arians also called out Johnson this week so expect him to play with some extra fire.

C.J. Anderson –  Anderson has 47 touches for 232 total yards along with 3 TD’s this season.  The running game is vital to the success of the Broncos to win football games with Trevor Siemian at QB.  Anderson is locked in at 20+ touches.  Cincinnati’s run defense is 24th in the league but have played two of the better teams so far this season so they say.  The Broncos also have a strong defense so I would expect the game to stay close to enough to keep Anderson involved.

Todd Gurley – He has been disappointing this season and still carries are fairly high price tag.  The quarterback play has been awful for the Rams which is part of the problem.  The Tampa Bay defense is not very good so Gurley could finally get going.  The touches have been at 19 per game so with more running room he has the potential to have a big game.  I would limit him to GPP’s as I don’t expect anyone will use him.  He has unlimited potential but the stacked box he faces every week is tough to run on.

Lamar Miller – If you are playing the Thursday slate, Miller is in play against a Patriots team that will be starting a 3rd string quarterback.  The Texans should shut down the New England offense so Miller could be set-up for another 25+ touch game.  He has 59 touches in the first two games totaling 214 yards.  His price is far more appealing on FanDuel.

Mid-Level Options

Melvin GordonThe Chargers lost Danny Woodhead which is good news for Gordon.  The only other option for touches is the undrafted free agent Kenneth Farrow and the newly signed Dexter McCluster.  The Colts have been the worst in the league vs running backs this season but plenty of that damage was done via the air.  Gordon has 159 rushing yards with 3 TD’s but only has 3 catches.  He is not the greatest pass catcher but should get most of the work this week.  The volume will be there but keep in mind that San Diego has one of the worst lines in the league so don’t expect greatness.

Matt Forte – It has been a surprising start to me for Forte.  He has 59 touches for 264 total yards and 4 TD’s.  The Jets have been using him as a workhorse and he gets the Chiefs defense that has seen some early season struggles vs. the run.  When Danny Woodhead racks up 89 rushing yards, you know things are not going well.  I wouldn’t expect the same type of results this week that we have seen from Forte but one of the great things about Forte is that he is not game flow dependent.  He will still be involved in the passing game if the Jets are trailing.

LeGarrette Blount – Without Tom Brady, New England has relied on the running game to help their young quarterbacks.  The Patriots will be starting a 3rd string rookie at QB so expect them lean on Blount.  He has 51 carries in two games this season.  Blount has more value in half point ppr or less formats as he isn’t involved in the passing game much and relies on rushing yards & TD’s.  I wouldn’t recommend in cash games but worth a look at in GPP’s.

Christine Michael – With Thomas Rawls battling another injury, Michael get a chance at full-time carries.  He is averaging just over 5 yards per carry in his 25 attempts this season.  San Francisco will struggle to score 10 points this week and with a hobbled Russell Wilson it would be a great time to lean on the running game for the Seahawks.

DeMarco Murray – He has been heavily involved in the passing game through the first two games with 12 catches including 2 TD’s.  He only has 25 carries since season and hasn’t found a ton of running room in those games with the exception of a 67-yard run.  The Oakland defense has added talent this year but has not shown up quite ye.  Murray is in line for a solid day even if he does lose a few rushing attempts to Derrick Henry.

Low-Cost Options

Shane Vereen – He is one of the most overrated running backs in the league but with Rashad Jennings banged up I would expect plenty of work.  Jennings could possibly still play and that would take Vereen out of any consideration this week.  Vereen has more value on PPR sites where he is the main pass catcher.  He has 17 touches last week for 66 total yards.  His cheap price tag and Redskin’s defense should return value if he is starting this week.

Frank Gore – He has 34 touches for 141 yards and 1 TD in two games.  The San Diego run defense is awful but Jacksonville didn’t get a chance to expose that last week.  Gore is not going to have a monster game but isn’t going to need one to pay off his price tag in particular on FanDuel.  The Colts should control the game which should lead too close to 20 touches this week.  He could squeeze out close to 100 yards and a solid chance to find the endzone.

Charles Sims – There is a good chance that Doug Martin will not play this week which should lead to a lot more work Sims.  He normally does most of his work as a receiver but he should approach 15 carries and maybe 5 catches this week.   The Rams offense has yet to score a TD this season which puts in a ton of pressure on the defense.  St Louis has a solid defense but they tend to be on the field too long which should open up things for Sims in the 2nd half as the defense wears down.

Matt Asiata & Jerrick McKinnon – Both of these RB’s are near minimum price and have their own value as punt plays depending on the scoring format on the site you play on.  It is tough match-up vs. Carolina but McKinnon will have value on full point PPR sites while Asiata will have more value on half point or less formats.

              OppOpp     
PlayerTmOppGSnapsRuAttRuYdsRuTDYPCRecReYdReTdTargetsFumRush RkDef RkDVOA$FD$DK$FA
DeAngelo WilliamsPITPHI21225823724.09106611402121-0.3420$8800$7500$5700
David JohnsonARIBUF2992813414.79714101101220-0.0900$8400$7700$6150
Todd GurleyLATB287369802.722140402120.0060$8300$7100$6000
Ezekiel ElliottDALCHI2914113423.2735042825-0.1407$8100$6900$5300
C.J. AndersonDENCIN2954016624.157661100249-0.0460$8000$7300$5600
Adrian PetersonMINCAR272315001.6127050206-0.2008$7800$6700$5800
DeMarco MurrayTENOAK2912513105.241291214115240.3210$7700$6300$5200
Matt ForteNYJKC21145219633.77768010030130.1980$7500$7000$5800
Devonta FreemanATLNO2722811304.0442004031310.3620$7400$5800$5200
Eddie LacyGBDET2712611104.2711703023220.2130$7300$6100$4800
Melvin GordonSDIND2743815934.1831803029270.4270$7100$5800$5150
Latavius MurrayOAKTEN2812211625.27757080326-0.0720$7100$5700$4900
Lamar MillerHOUNE21125318903.5762506127110.2000$7000$7,200$5100
Jamaal CharlesKCNYJ0000000000014180.1570$7000$5600$5000
Isaiah CrowellCLEMIA2623019526.503310301023-0.1150$6900$4700$4700
Christine MichaelSEASF2992512605.0453108077-0.6640$6900$5000$4650
Mark IngramNOATL265218804.1964606011300.2501$6900$5900$4900
Arian FosterMIACLE256164702.9436205119320.1540$6800$5500$4900
Doug MartinTBLA257258503.40534050225-0.1200$6800$5700$4850
LeSean McCoyBUFARI2913111713.7784309094-0.0330$6700$6500$4900
Ryan MathewsPHIPIT2583110933.52130102614-0.0490$6600$5800$4650
T.J. YeldonJACBAL2107286712.391240015053-0.4100$6600$5600$4400
LeGarrette BlountNEHOU2935119323.7800002178-0.2200$6500$4,400$4750
Jeremy LangfordCHIDAL285288523.043120611817-0.0260$6500$5200$4750
Justin ForsettBALJAC275247803.2552407013160.1180$6500$3900$4700
Jonathan StewartCARMIN253207303.6527030115-0.0960$6500$4800$4800
Jeremy HillCINDEN258205312.65337050282-0.0410$6400$3700$4700
Theo RiddickDETGB275188214.569911100610-0.1960$6400$4900$4400
Matt JonesWASNYG258208514.2521302016190.0570$6400$4100$4600
Tevin ColemanATLNO262206813.40712008031310.3620$6400$4500$4600
Thomas RawlsSEASF238192501.3264106077-0.6640$6400$5500$4550
Spencer WareKCNYJ2702112716.059177011114180.1570$6300$5700$4800
Fozzy WhittakerCARMIN2621911305.95435051115-0.0960$6300$3800$4450
Charles SimsTBLA269133302.54636180225-0.1200$6300$4900$4500
Ameer AbdullahDETGB2571810105.61557150610-0.1960$6200$4600$4450
Carlos HydeSFSEA2963712223.3052306141-0.5640$6100$4400$4550
Kenyan DrakeMIACLE21821216.002602019320.1540$5900$3600$4200
Rashad JenningsNYGWAS2663110203.2931604032280.2050$5800$5100$4650
Giovani BernardCINDEN275104204.20111051150282-0.0410$5700$4300$4650
Jay AjayiMIACLE13651402.8043104119320.1540$5700$4000$4700
Frank GoreINDSD2822710303.8173819025290.0790$5700$5000$4400
Chris IvoryJACBAL0000000000053-0.4100$5600$3900$4300
Derrick HenryTENOAK252144303.0735003015240.3210$5500$3700$4000
James WhiteNEHOU25452304.607500110178-0.2200$5400N/A$4000
Jerick McKinnonMINCAR2283802.6722030206-0.2008$5300$3800$4500
Terrance WestBALJAC251237403.2232105013160.1180$5200$3500$4100
Shane VereenNYGWAS264208004.0064708132280.2050$5200$3700$4350
Charcandrick WestKCNYJ26096006.6772608014180.1570$5200$3500$4200
Darren SprolesPHIPIT279175203.064320702614-0.0490$5200$3700$4300
Chris ThompsonWASNYG26762414.0057306016190.0570$5100$3400$4150
Duke JohnsonCLEMIA25463405.6777201001023-0.1150$5100$4200$4200
Dexter McClusterTENOAK0000000000015240.3210$4500N/A$3500