Fantasy Football Week 3 Start' Em, Sit 'Em: 3 Running Backs You Should Bench

Jamaal Charles is hurt. Felix Jones is hurt. Chris Johnson is hurt. Cedric Benson is suspended.

There are a lot of question marks at the running back position right now, and unfortunately there are lot more guys bound to disappoint. Here's a look at three you want to stay away from in Week 3. 

DeAngelo Williams

It appears the Carolina Panthers have done a complete 180 and are now a pass-happy offense. Williams is the certified No. 1 running back, but he's only received 17 carries combined in the first two weeks, and he hasn't done much with them.

Now he gets to go up against Paul Posluszny and a Jacksonville defense that has been very stingy against running backs. The Jaguars shut down Chris Johnson in Week 1 and held the Jets backs to 2.5 yards per carry in Week 2.

A lack of opportunities and a tough matchup makes Williams one to avoid.

Beanie Wells

Along with Kansas City, Seattle is essentially the laughingstock of the league right now, but it is a completely different animal at home.

The Hawks shut down Frank Gore in Week 1 but weren't as successful against Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman last Sunday.

Expect a result for Beanie Wells closer to what Gore did in Week 1. The Hawks defensive front seven is an underrated unit, and it's always been hard for opposing offenses to run at the noisy Century Link Field. 

Thomas Jones

The Chiefs are expected to give Jones the start for the injured Jamaal Charles, but fantasy owners shouldn't get cute and do the same.

The 33-year-old Jones is nowhere near what he used to be—he's averaging a pedestrian 3.1 yards per carry this year while Dexter McCluster is averaging 7.8 per tote.

McCluster is easily the more exciting back and is deployable in a lot more situations for Kansas City, who will likely be playing from behind.

The Chargers have been good against the run so far this season, and if any running back is going to have success against them in Week 3, it'll be through the air.

If you start anyone from this Chiefs backfield, make it McCluster.

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