Fantasy Football Week 3: An Early Look at 5 RBs with Cupcake Matchups

Because Week 2 of the NFL season isn't over quite yet, my guess is that most fantasy owners aren't looking ahead to Week 3 at this juncture.

But for the sake of having a valuable discussion, I'm going to assume I'm wrong. I mean, what the heck? I usually am anyway.

Right then, now that we got all the squared away, the thing I want to talk about today is running backs. They are the lifeblood of fantasy football, but there should always be more to setting your lineup than merely picking the biggest names. You have to look at matchups too.

In Week 3, there are five running backs that I think have better matchups than all the others.

5. Cedric Benson vs. San Francisco 49ers

After a fast start in Week 1, Benson backtracked a little bit in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos. He carried the ball just 16 times for 59 yards, and he failed to get into the end zone.

Things should be better in Week 3. Benson and the Bengals are going to be taking on the San Francisco 49ers, and I have an inkling that Benson is going to have the advantage.

The primary reason I say so is because the Niners simply haven't been tested against the rush quite yet. The Seattle Seahawks don't boast much of a rushing attack (or offensive attack of any kind), and neither do the Dallas Cowboys.

As such, we'll see how well the Niners do against a running back like Benson. My guess is that he'll get 20-plus carries, as the Bengals will look to wear down San Francisco's defense while stifling their offense (which is easy). The end result should be a solid game for Benson.

4. Ahmad Bradshaw at Philadelphia Eagles

I was on the fence about Bradshaw heading into the season, and he obliged me by rushing for just 44 yards on 13 carries in Week 1. I mean, not that I'm rooting against the guy or anything.

Regardless, Bradshaw is probably already looking forward to facing the Eagles in Week 3. They gave up 154 yards rushing to the St. Louis Rams, and another 138 to the Atlanta Falcons. We all thought they were going to be weak against the run, and they are.

The Giants should know that as well as anyone. Expect them to give both Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs plenty of action, with Bradshaw getting the bulk of the carries.

3. Rashard Mendenhall at Indianapolis Colts

After two weeks, Mendenhall owners are still waiting for a breakout game from the Steelers running back. He gained just 45 yards in Week 1, and managed just 66 in Week 2 in a game that saw the Steelers give Isaac Redman extra touches.

Things will be a little different against the Colts. The Colts have always been vulnerable to the run, and that trend has continued in the early goings this year. Ben Tate and the Texans torched them for 167 yards rushing, and Peyton Hillis and the Cleveland Browns got them for another 106.

Besides which, the Steelers are going to have to get Mendenhall going at some point. The Colts offer them a good opportunity to do just that.

2. Chris Johnson at Denver Broncos

In Week 1, neither the workload nor the production was there for Titans running back Chris Johnson. Week 2 brought the workload, but the production remained missing in action, as CJ2K rushed for just 53 yards on 24 carries.

At a rate like this, I wouldn't blame you if you were thinking about benching Johnson. But don't do it, friends. He's facing the Broncos in Week 3, and that's a good thing for him.

The reason we know this is because the Broncos are just not very good when it comes to defending the run. They did OK against the Bengals and Benson, but the way in which the Raiders torched them for 190 yards in Week 1 is a better indicator of how good (or not good) the Broncos are against the rush.

So my advice is to stick with Johnson for one more week. And then for 13 more weeks after that.

1. Ray Rice at St. Louis Rams

After looking brilliant in Week 1, Rice came back to earth a little in Week 2. True of all the Ravens, in fact.

But fear not. Rice is still one of the most versatile backs in the league, and he should do well against the Rams in Week 3. The last time we saw them, after all, they were giving up 236 rushing yards to the Eagles.

If that wasn't enough, the Rams will also be playing the Ravens on a short week of rest.