Top 5 RB Performances of Week 3

The Carolina Panthers are known for having one of the league’s best run defenses thanks to a great group of defensive tackles and the elite linebacker duo of Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, but the Pittsburgh Steelers took advantage of Davis’s injury and made the rest of the Panthers defense look quite lousy in run defense. We knew the Steelers running back duo of Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount would form one of the finest tandems in the NFL this year, but I don’t think we saw this kind of an uber-efficient Sunday Night Football performance coming against Carolina. Both Bell and Blount highlight this week’s top running back performances, along with the likes of a regular to this list in Dallas Cowboys feature back DeMarco Murray. And, in case you were wondering, it is indeed very rare for backs from the same team to make this list, so that emphasizes just how special the Steelers rushing attack was in Week 3 and will be going forward.

Miami Dolphins RB Lamar Miller

If the Miami Dolphins know what’s good for them, then they’ll finally hand the rock to Lamar Miller, who is honestly one of the most underrated running backs in the league and a supremely gifted and consistent rusher. This guy is consistently churning out six yards gains in 2014 after somehow doing a credible job behind an absolutely pathetic offensive line last season. Knowshon Moreno grabbed headlines for his 100-yard rushing day against the New England Patriots in Week 1, but Miller was also good in that game and has played at a high level since Moreno dislocated his shoulder in Week 2.

Miller continues to be used ineffectively due to a lack of carries, but he still put together a fantastic performance on Sunday to gash the Kansas City Chiefs for 108 yards and a TD on just 15 carries. If they can bump his carries up to 20 more often and make sure he’s the lead back over Moreno, then they’ll find that their offense and, by extension, Ryan Tannehill will be better off for it.

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Pittsburgh Steelers RB LeGarrette Blount

LeGarrette Blount has also been a gifted rusher, and he was finally able to escape out of Greg Schiano’s doghouse in Tampa Bay via a trade to the Patriots before showing off that talent again last year. After receiving interest from the Steelers, Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens in free agency, Blount parlayed his play in 2013 (especially his play in the playoffs) into a new contract with the Steelers and a new opportunity. He’s cashed in thus far and blasted the Panthers with his awe-inspiring rushing style. 118 yards on ten carries is certainly an efficient day at the office for every running back.

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell

The even better half of the Pittsburgh Steelers running game, Le’Veon Bell showed promise as a rookie and has, as promised, been even better in the feature back role this year for the Steelers, with some better blocking helping him out. Bell turned 21 carries into a whopping 147 yards, and he also chipped in two passes for ten yards on four targets, so that wasn’t actually the most efficient display through the air. Still, Bell has established himself as a top-notch fantasy option, as well as a top-notch dual-threat at the running back position with his rushing and receiving ability.

New York Giants RB Rashad Jennings

The New York Giants were reeling as they headed into their Week 3 matchup with the Houston Texans, and they emerged with a key confidence boost after the offense finally clicked. Not only did Eli Manning look effective running the show, but new running back Rashad Jennings replicated his Hall of Fame Game display- and then some- by racking up an incredibly impressive 176 rushing yards on 34 carries with a TD to boot. Jennings is the clear workhorse in the Giants backfield, and the former Oakland Raider and Jacksonville Jaguar certainly has the consistency, durability, and vision to continue to play well in this role if he can get credible blocking in front of him (something the Giants struggled mightily with in the first two weeks).

Dallas Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray

There’s no doubt that the NFC East is filled with talent at the running back position, and DeMarco Murray emerged as an excellent weapon in the division’s stockpile last season, as he was finally able to stay healthy. He’s been fantastic to start the 2014 season, as he put in another strong day in Week 3 with a 100-yard rushing day in a 34-31 win over the St. Louis Rams that shouldn’t have been that close. Murray didn’t have the best day of the running backs on this list, but the Cowboys feature back showed off his pass-catching skills by adding four receptions for 31 yards on four targets to help add to his rushing total. Murray and Dez Bryant have been lighting it up for the Cowboys again, and they’ll continue to be two of the best players at their respective positions.