Fantasy Football: Running Back Start/Sit, Rankings – Week 3

John Williams

Each week with the positional rankings, I’m going to offer Dallas Cowboys centered Fantasy Football information. I’ll offer you a breakdown of the matchup for your and my running backs. Make sure you go to InsideTheStar.com to get the breakdowns on all the important match ups for the coming week.

Note: The Expert consensus rankings come from Fantasypros.com

Your Dallas Cowboys Running Back – Ezekiel Elliott

Cowboys Headlines - Ezekiel Elliott Learning Things Aren't So Easy In NFL
Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports

Expert Consensus Ranking: 3
My Ranking: 2

Ezekiel Elliott was having a really good day. Not great, but it was really good until he fumbled twice in the second half.

Despite the fumbles, he isn’t losing his starting job anytime soon. The Dallas Cowboys see him as the now and the future at the running back position.

For week three, he is the starter and he is going to get 20 touches against the Chicago Bears, who will be without linebacker Danny Trevathan and defensive linemen Lamar Houston.

In week one, the Chicago Bears allowed Lamar Miller to rush for 106 yards on 28 carries. In week two, the Chicago Bears allowed two rushing scores to Ryan Mathews.

With Dak Prescott beginning to prove he can beat teams in the intermediate part of the field, it’s only a matter of time before the Dallas Cowboys will see 7 man fronts again.

Flawless Forecast: 20 touches, 120 total yards, one touchdown.

Your Dallas Cowboys Running Back – Alfred Morris

Cowboys Headlines - 88Expert Consensus Ranking: 49
My Ranking: 40

Alfred Morris isn’t going to be the starter unless Ezekiel Elliott continues to have trouble holding onto the football.

I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Morris, however, has a role on this team and he plays his role pretty well. I was surprised he only received five carries in week two, but that’s a testament to how well Elliott played before the fumbles.

Morris only had two carries before Ezekiel Elliott had fumble problems in the second half. Those two carries went for zero and zero yards.

His three carries after the fumbles: A four-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown, a five-yard run on Dallas’ first play under two minutes to go, followed by a run for negative two yards.

Morris is a long shot play in 16 team fantasy leagues as a flex because he has a shot to score each week, but this is Elliott’s team.

Flawless Forecast: Seven carries for 33 yards. 

One to Start – Theo Riddick (Lions vs Packers)

Fantasy Football - Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - Week 3Expert Consensus Ranking: 23
My Ranking: 22

Theo Riddick had a role in the Detroit Lions’ backfield as the primary pass catching back. In 2015, Riddick caught 80 passes on 99 targets. That ranked 3rd on the team.

This year he’s shared the running back duties with Ameer Abdullah. Well, in week two, Abdullah went down with a foot injury and has now been placed on injured reserve.

Before the injury, Riddick was averaging 13.5 touches per game. I expect that number to go up.

This week, the Detroit Lions play the Green Bay Packers in what I expect to be a high scoring affair. Riddick is a must start in all formats.

Flawless Forecast: 18 total touches for 110 yards and one touchdown.

One to Sit – LeSean McCoy (Bills vs Cardinals)

Fantasy Football - Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - Week 3 1Expert Consensus Ranking: 11
My Ranking: 15

LeSean McCoy and the Buffalo Bills are going against a really good Arizona Cardinals defense in week three.

After getting beat at home by the New England Patriots in week one, the Arizona Cardinals came back and thrashed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cardinals limited Jameis Winston and their explosive passing game to one touchdown and forced them into five turnovers.

Buffalo is limited in what it can do offensively, and their defense is struggling as well. If Arizona can get out to a lead early, I think LeSean McCoy is going to have a very difficult day gaining yards.

Flawless Forecast: 22 total touches for 65 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Running Back Rankings

[table id=79 /]

Previous Position: Quarterback Next Position: Wide Receiver
See All Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings