Saturday, September 25, 2021

Week 3 Fantasy Football RB Start'em, Sit'em

The decision on which player to start, or sit, largely comes down to the options on your roster (and/or possibly the players available on your league's waiver wire).

As an example, Ty'Son Williams is listed below as a "start" for Week 3. And I'd certainly be comfortable going into Week 3 with him as my starting quarterback.

Then again, Williams may be a "sit" for your team.

As an example, if you own Derrick Henry, Chris Carson and Williams and start two running backs, you should start Henry and Carson and, in turn, bench Williams.

For a more direct answer on whether we would start Player X over Player Y, check our Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings. Instead of making those direct comparisons, the goal here is to highlight players that we like, or dislike, for the week.

Week 3 Fantasy Football RB Start'em

Ty'Son Williams, Baltimore Ravens (at DET)

More than a TD favorite on the road, the Ravens have the third-highest implied total this week. While Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman will rotate as a part of a committee, Williams should lead the rotation as he's done through the first two weeks. In two games, Williams has 22 carries for 142 yards (6.5 YPC) and a touchdown in addition to to five receptions for 45 yards.

No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing running backs this season than the Detroit Lions. Not only did Aaron Jones score four touchdowns against them last week, but Elijah Mitchell ran for 104 yards against them in Week 1.

Damien Harris, New England Patriots (vs. NO)

The matchup may not great on paper as the New Orleans Saints rank third in the NFL in rushing defense (66.0 YPG allowed) and ranked fourth (93.9) last season as well. That said, Harris has a total of 42 touches through two games and should get enough work to deliver mid-RB2 returns for his fantasy managers. In fact, only four running backs -- Derrick Henry (61), Christian McCaffrey (59), Joe Mixon (54) and Dalvin Cook (50) -- have more touches through Week 2 than Harris.

Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals (at JAX)

Edmonds enters Week 3 with two mid-RB2 weekly performances -- in fact, he was the RB18 both weeks (half-PPR scoring). Edmonds has yet to score a touchdown, but he has a total of 29 touches -- 20 rush attempts and nine receptions. Higher than some on Edmonds entering the season (Chase Edmonds preseason profile), my thought was his role as a receiver provided him a floor at his then ADP with upside for more. That's how I feel about him this week -- RB2 floor due to his receiving role with RB1 upside if he's able to find the end zone in a plus matchup with the second-highest implied total of the week.

Week 3 Fantasy Football RB Sit'em

Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (vs. WAS)

Singletary has been a pleasant surprise through the first two weeks of the season. Averaging 6.42 yards per carry, Singletary has scored the 16th-most running back fantasy points this season. Even with Zack Moss active in Week 2, Singletary had more touches in Week 2 (15) than he had in Week 1 (14).

That said, potential workload concerns for such a pass-happy team with a dual-threat quarterback that has led the team in rushing touchdowns over the past three-plus seasons still exist. In addition, the matchup is a tough one as WFT has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Darrell Henderson/Sony Michel, Los Angeles Rams (vs. TB)

If Henderson is active, Michel would be a "sit." At this point, the Rams have "hope and optimism" that Henderson (ribs) will be able to play in Week 3.

That said, the Bucs have one of the league's best run defenses. They currently rank second in rushing YPG (57.5) allowed and third in YPC (3.0) allowed. They led the NFL in both categories (80.6 YPG, 3.6 YPC) in 2020. So far this season, they have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. Regardless of who's active, all Rams running backs are outside of my top 24 in Week 3.

Kenyan Drake, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. MIA)

Going into the season, it seemed as though it would take an injury to Josh Jacobs for Drake to move into the RB2 range. With Jacobs out last week, it was Peyton Barber that handled much of the early-down work. With Jacobs sidelined in Week 2, Drake had only one more touch in Week 2 (12) than he had in Week 1 (11). That said, Barber had 13 touches in Week 2. Even with Jacobs doubtful for Week 3, Drake remains nothing more than a flex option against his former team.

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