The NFL schedule is into week 3 and some players to watch in fantasy include a number of players that owners should be watching out for includes names like Andre Ellington, Rashard Mendenhall, Reggie Bush, Rob Gronkowski, Giovani Bernard, Julio Jones, Roddy White, Andre Johnson, Daryl Richardson and Willis McGahee, as some are dealing with injuries while others will get the chance to step up.
The running back position can often times be one of the hardest to draft, because there can be a drop-off between the top players like Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Trent Richardson and Jamaal Charles to the next tier, including names like Darren McFadden and DeAngelo Williams, who are not sure things by any stretch. That makes it vitally important for fantasy owners to have backups and backup plans and some names that could be had later in drafts that could put up starter numbers include Bernard as well as Mendenhall.
Bernard is being looked at as one of the top sleeper players at any position after he was drafted by the Bengals, as he has prime speed and explosiveness and all signs point to him being a big part of the offense. The law firm of BenJarvus Green Ellis is expected to get carries, but he is a totally different back than Bernard and just based on speed, he may be out there even more and based on how he played in the preseason, he could even get goal line carries as well.
The NFL season has a number of exciting games in Week 3 and as fantasy football owners move through their drafts, they will be looking for some sleepers at various positions and running back should be deep this season with names like Montee Ball, Giovani Bernard, Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Ivory and Daryl Richardson among others.
Bernard should work well with Andy Dalton and his biggest value could be out of the backfield as a receiver and that makes him very clutch in PPR leagues. Bernard is not going too high in drafts and with AJ Green and Tyler Eifert in the passing game, Bernard could get plenty of chances as an every down back depending on how he plays. Bernard has been compared to backs like Darren Sproles with explosive speed and after playing for the Tar Heels in college, he is looking like one of the best options at running back of the 2013 class.
Eddie Lacy and Montee Ball are two other running backs that could produce and especially Lacy after the Packers got rid of Alex Green and DuJuan Harris went down, making him and James Starks the primary options. Bernard along with Ball and Lacy are the best rookie options and Ball could end up as the starter if he outplays Ronnie Hillman at any point. Daryl Richardson is another player that could put up start numbers, as he is taking over for Steven Jackson.
Richardson produced at the end of 2012, leading the team down the stretch and while Isaiah Pead will get carries, Richardson is the clear starter and with Sam Bradford developing, the offense could be exciting. Chris Ivory and Ben Tate along with Danny Woodhead are sleeper options and if Ronnie Hillman falters, Knowshon Moreno would come back and have a solid season, especially if he can stay healthy.
Rashard Mendenall is a great sleeper pick from the Cardinals, but he will need to find a way to remain healthy and since there are two rookies behind him, he should get plenty of chances. Ryan Williams and Beanie wells were banged up over the past couple years and now Mendenall gets the chance to play with his former coach in Bruce Arians from Pitt and that could help him have a productive season over rookies like Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington. Adding Carson Palmer to the offense should only help open the running game.