Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings: 3 Under-the-Radar RBs You Must Start

Running backs, perhaps more than any other position, are at a premium when it comes to fantasy football. A good running back touches the ball between 20 and 30 times per game, so there is plenty of opportunity to rack up fantasy points.

Unfortunately, the days of the workhorse back seem to be ending. There are very few teams that utilize one feature back anymore, so there are tons of middle-of-the-road options in terms of which running backs to start on your fantasy team.

Here are three under-the-radar backs who, due to favorable matchups, will be very good starts as either RB2s or flex players this weekend.

Mike Tolbert: San Diego Chargers

If not for the presence of Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers fullback Mike Tolbert would be a surefire, every-week fantasy starter. Mathews inevitably steals some touches, though, so Tolbert's production can be a bit spotty at times.

Tolbert is San Diego's main option at the goal line and in the passing game as far as running backs go, so Tolbert is a fairly reliable for a back that is involved in a timeshare. The Chargers offense as a whole should be in for a big week as they take on the injury-depleted Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs have surrendered 89 points in just two games, and the explosive Charger offense will look to make life even more miserable for Kansas City. The Chargers will likely build a nice early lead, so both Tolbert and Mathews should receive their fair share of carries, and Tolbert will likely have plenty of red-zone opportunities.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis - New England Patriots

No team has a more muddled running back situation, year in and year out, than the New England Patriots. This season is no different as the Pats have a number of capable rushers, including Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen, but the most valuable New England back is certainly BenJarvus Green-Ellis. 

The Patriots are certainly more comfortable passing the ball, but they do run to keep opposing defenses honest, and Green-Ellis is the main beneficiary. You won't get too many 100-yard games or receptions out of "Law Firm" but he is a very consistent touchdown scorer as he already has two this season.

The Buffalo Bills are likely to focus heavily on stopping Tom Brady and the New England passing game, so there should be some running room for Green-Ellis. If nothing else, you can almost bank on Green-Ellis finding pay dirt, so he will have plenty of use this weekend.

Shonn Greene - New York Jets

The New York Jets have built a reputation as team that likes to play tough defense and run the ball on offense. With the amount of passing Mark Sanchez and the offense have been doing, though, that is starting to look like a fallacy. 

After a disappointing 2010 season, running back Shonn Greene was supposed to be New York's bell-cow back this year with LaDainian Tomlinson playing primarily in passing situations. Essentially every situation has been a passing situation for New York, though, as Greene has just 75 rushing yards through two games.

Head coach Rex Ryan surely must realize that the Jets need the threat of a running game to succeed this season, so I expect him to establish the run against the Oakland Raiders this week. The Buffalo Bills didn't run much against Oakland last week, but when they did, Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller had plenty of green in front of them. Look for Greene to have a break-out performance this week.