Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings: 5 RBs Facing Best Matchups

If you're fortunate enough to have one of these five RBs on your fantasy team, pat yourself on the back because they are going to roll this week.

So far this season it's been a rough time being a RB, as the QBs appear to be throwing for over 350-400 yards each week.

That obviously takes away from the ground game, but nonetheless, you can't win a championship in real or fake football without a stud in the backfield.

Check it out.

Maurice Jones-Drew (vs. Carolina Panthers)

This season, the Carolina Panthers have faced two teams who's strength isn't in the rushing attack.

And yet, they still have allowed an average of 111.5 yards per contest on the ground.

That being said, Jacksonville is going with rookie QB Blaine Gabbert this week, so head coach Jack Del Rio is be heavily reliant on RB Maurice Jones-Drew.

Add the fact that Carolina LB Jon Beason is out for the year, and it only makes matters worse, as he was arguably their best defensive player.

MJD tops over 100 yards for the first time this season, and adds a couple of TDs to polish off his week three performance.

Michael Turner (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Currently, the Atlanta Falcons rank No. 9 in rushing offense in averaging 124 yards per game.

RB Michael Turner has compiled 214 yards on 31 attempts, but has only reached the end zone once.

On the flip side however, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have allowed an average of 156 rush yards per game, thus ranking them a dismal No. 31 in the NFL.

Turner was able to gain at least 100 yards in each of the Falcons first two games, and with a vulnerable Buccaneers team in week three, Turner should easily top 100 yards and score two TDs.

Chris Johnson (vs. Denver Broncos)

It was a foregone conclusion that Tennessee RB Chris Johnson was going to start off the 2011 season very slow.

After missing the better part of training camp because of a hold out, you can't just hop back into the driver seat without being a little rusty.

This is the NFL and everyone is good, which is why buffing out those rough spots is so vital in the preseason.

However, fear not CJ fantasy owners because this week the Denver Broncos come visit the Titans and they have the NFL's No. 28-ranked rush defense.

They've allowed an average of 131 yards per game, and if there's a week where Johnson gets back on track, week three is the week.

Therefore, don't be surprised if he topples 125 yards and scores two TDs.

Rashard Mendenhall (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a horrendous start in week one, they bounced back in week two with a shutout of the Seattle Seahawks.

This week, the Steelers travel to Indianapolis and play the Peyton Manning-less Colts, who have given up 136.5 rush yards per game, ranking them No. 29 in the league.

As for Pittsburgh RB Rashard Mendenhall, who has yet to breakout this season, has only compiled 111 yards on 31 attempts.

Week three is going to be that breakout game for over 100 yards and possibly three TDs if head coach Mike Tomlin uses him in the red zone instead of Issac Redman.

Either way Mendenhall is going to have a great game and the Steelers will tack on another victory.

Ray Rice (vs. St. Louis Rams)

After a great performance in week one against AFC North rival Pittsburgh in which he accounted for 149 total yards and two TDs, Baltimore RB Ray Rice almost pulled a 180-degree turn in week two in the Ravens' loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Well this week Rice and the Ravens will get back to normal as they play the 0-2 Rams in St. Louis.

The Rams have the No. 32-ranked rush defense in allowing almost 180 yards per game, so it's basically set in stone that Rice will hit at least 125 if not 150 with three TDs.

Not to mention he's one of the best RBs in the NFL in catching screens and check downs out of the backfield, so it's not out of the question that he could account for almost 200 yards.

Any way you slice it though, Rice is going to have a solid performance and Baltimore will be back above .500.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

And you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.