The Minnesota Vikings offensive line has shown plenty of growth since last season. It wasn’t the line that created the issues displayed by Kirk Cousins in week 2. That was all about Cousins.

Instead, the line paved the way for Dalvin Cook to generate 28 fantasy points in week 2 to lead all running backs in fantasy scoring. Cook has been a beast in the first two weeks of the season, churning out 265 rushing yards to go along with his effort in the passing game.

Cook should be considered a top-line RB1 once again in week 3. For the running backs who are questionable, here’s the week 3 fantasy football running backs start ’em, sit ’em guide.

Start

Matt Breida vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are struggling. And while the 49ers are tough to trust since they haven’t played anyone, I’ll continue to be bullish on this offense.

Kyle Shanahan knows how to get the most out of his offense, especially the running game. And according to him, Breida is the best running back among the group. The only problem has been San Francisco’s knack to not give Breida the ball at the goalline and the desire to give several other running backs carries, all the while Breida is rushing for 121 yards on just 12 carries.

That scares me a little, with Breida having to share so much of the work, but I’ll still take him as an RB2 candidate against Pittsburgh. The Steelers are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to running backs and now I’m getting Pittsburgh on the road in a cross-country trek. I’ll stick with Breida in my lineup.

Devin Singletary/Frank Gore vs. Cincinnati Bengals

I picked Josh Allen as a streaming option as quarterback, so I’ll stick with the Bills as being a team I’m backing in week 3 on all fronts.

Singletary has been a nice surprise this season, generating double-digit fantasy performances in back-to-back weeks with 127 yards rushing. That has all occurred with Gore still taking some carries.

Of the two, I’m higher on Singletary in week 3 against a terrible Bengals defense, which was torn apart by San Francisco in week 2. However, Singletary is nursing an injury, so if he’s not able to go, then make sure to start Gore as at least a Flex option.

Gore isn’t the same running back he used to be, but the Bengals are allowing 40 fantasy points per game to running backs, by far the highest number in the NFL. Keep an eye on this situation, but go with the hot hand in week 3.

Leonard Fournette vs. Tennessee Titans

It hasn’t been a good start to the year for Fournette. He’s been better in the passing game, but defenses are completely selling themselves out to stop him. So that has created a problem for his value in fantasy football.

But he’s still dominating the carries and overall work out of the backfield for the Jaguars. So even with the reduced output, Fournette is a more stable option than most running backs in the RB2 range. And he may have more success against the Titans, which allowed 142 rushing yards in week 2 against an Indianapolis team that also is struggling to find a passing game.

The Titans are good against the pass, but in a game where game flow caused the opposition to run the ball, the Titans were unable to stop the run. I’ll stick with Fournette once again, even if he’s not the same player he was during his rookie season.

Duke Johnson should play a major role for the Houston Texans. Flickr

Sit

Duke Johnson vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Many thought Johnson would emerge as the main running back for the Texans when Lamar Miller suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason.

However, that hasn’t worked out for fantasy owners.

Johnson split carries with Carols Hyde in week 1, but definitely trailed the output in week 2 against Jacksonville. Johnson was used primarily on the third downs, giving way for Hyde to dominate the early down work.

That is problematic for Johnson’s fantasy owners, especially since it appeared that he would have more of a role in this offense. However, with Hyde still healthy, Johnson is merely a flier Flex, with limited possibility for a decent amount of work.

Mark Ingram vs. Kansas City Chiefs

For how bad the Chiefs defense can be, the rushing defense has surprisingly been able to limit opposing running backs.

The Chiefs are giving up just 15 fantasy points per game to running backs, a top-10 number in the NFL. A lot of that has to do with gameflow, and even with the Ravens playing well, I’m guessing the gameflow is going to require the Ravens to pass against this Kansas City defense.

Ingram has been good in the first two weeks, but he’s still not the better rushing option on the Ravens. He is the No. 1 running back on the team, but can’t quite generate enough carries to have the volume necessary to overcome good rush defenses.

The Chiefs are improving against the run, so I’m putting Ingram on the back-burner in week 2.

Damien Williams vs. Baltimore Ravens

We’ll stick with this game for the lack of running ability.

Williams has not been the answer in the running game for the Chiefs, with LeSean McCoy looking better than him running the football. Williams left week 2 with an injury, so that’s worth keeping an eye on this week.

Regardless if he’s healthy or not, I’m still avoiding Williams in this contest against a Ravens team that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Williams has been decent as a pass-catching running back, but he’s not yet good enough to trust as a high-volume running back out of the backfield.

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