Heading into Week 3 of the NFL season, there are a few surprises atop the fantasy football running back rankings. Looking at PPR rankings through Week 2, to no surprise Christian McCaffrey leads the league in fantasy scoring. However, hot on his tail are the Rams Kyren Williams, and Washington’s Brian Robinson. The Cowboy’s Tony Pollard and Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson round out the top five.
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Fantasy Football Week 3 Running Back Rankings
Tier 1: Weekly Winners
1. Christian McCaffrey
2. Tony Pollard
3. Derrick Henry
4. Bijan Robinson
5. Austin Ekeler*
6. Travis Etienne
Christian McCaffrey is healthy, which means he stays at number one where he belongs. Tony Pollard and the Cowboys continue to impress, Pollard got 25 carries for Week 2 and was targeted eight times second in receiving only to CeeDee Lamb on the team. This week it’s a matchup against the Cardinals for Dallas, so he should have another huge week.
Derrick Henry continues to be the workhorse he’s been since taking over in Tennessee. 79 yards on the ground, with three receptions Henry is a plug-and-play every week and will take on the Browns for Week 3. Bijan Robinson showed up in Week 2 with another solid performance. Robinson racked up 124 yards on the ground and picked up four catches for 48 additional yards. Splitting carries with Tyler Allgeier seems to be the way the Falcons will continue to go and Robinson has produced through two games.
Austin Ekeler remains on the list with the asterisk to watch his status. Reports led the public to believe there was a chance Ekeler would play in Week 2, making fantasy managers hopeful for Week 3. If Ekeler plays, you start him and trust the talent. Travis Etienne showed up big in Week 1 and had a letdown in Week 2. Week 2 was a tough matchup against the Chiefs and for Week 3 Etienne gets to face the Texans.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Running Back Rankings
Tier 2: Running Back 1
7. Brian Robinson Jr
8. Rhamomdre Stevenson
9. Aaron Jones*
10. Kyren Williams
11. Raheem Mostert
12. Rachaad White
Brian Robinson is the unquestioned lead back in Washington. Robinson got 18 carries and rumbled for 87 yards hitting pay dirt twice on the ground. Brian Robinson also caught two passes each going for 21 yards. Robinson was the number one overall running back for Week 2 following a strong RB15 performance in Week 1. Rhamomdre Stevenson remains the lead dog in New England and has proved reliable in the pass game catching all nine targets that have come his way through two games.
Aaron Jones is another asterisk you’ll have to keep an eye on due to injury. If he’s good to go you play him. This new Packers offense has looked good through the first two games and Jones went off in Week 1. Unfortunately, with the hamstring injury, Jones might not play in Week 3, but if he does he turned in 127 yards of offense and two touchdowns in less than three quarters of work in Week 1.
Kyren Williams suddenly became the #1 in Los Angeles when the Rams made Cam Akers a healthy scratch Sunday morning. It appears Akers will be traded and Williams who was the RB2 overall in Week 2 against a tough 49ers defense will be the answer for the Rams. Raheem Mostert continued to impress against a strong Patriots defense with 121 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. With running mate Salvon Ahmed facing an injury, Mostert’s workload may go up even more. Rachaad White looked the part in Week 2 with 73 yards on the ground, a touchdown, and five receptions.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Running Back Rankings
Tier 3: Running Back 2
13. Kenneth Walker
14. Josh Jacobs
15. James Cook
16. James Connor
17. Joe Mixon
18. Jahmyr Gibbs
19. Tyler Allgeier
20. Jerome Ford
21. Zack Moss
22. Gus Edwards
23. D’Andre Swift
24. Isiah Pacheco
Kenneth Walker reached the end zone twice in Seattle’s Week 2 matchup against Detroit. In Week 3, Walker gets the Carolina Panthers who have given up 264 yards on the ground through two games. Josh Jacobs had a very disappointing Week 2 rushing for -2 yards on nine attempts. However, Jacobs’ ability isn’t under any question and in Week 3 Jacobs will face a Steelers defense that ranks last in the NFL in rush yards allowed. In Week 2 they gave up 106 yards to Jerome Ford after allowing Nick Chubb to run for 64 yards in his 10 carries before his gruesome injury. James Cook went to work in Week 2 rushing for 123 yards against the Raiders. The cornering thing is Cook gets taken out on the goal line for Murray and Harris to snipe the touchdowns, but the Bills have proven Cook is the lead man and can get the points you need.
James Connor had a great day against the Giants, cracking the century mark and scoring a touchdown. This scrappy Cardinals team faces a tough Cowboys matchup in Week 3, but even in their 40-0 win against the Giants, the Cowboys gave up 122 yards on the ground. Joe Mixon might be leaned on a little heavier in Week 3 with Joe Burrow being questionable after reinjuring his calf. The Bengals matchup against a bottom 10 rushing defense in the Los Angeles Rams. For Jahmyr Gibbs this is the week we see how much this Lions coaching staff believes in him. For the first two weeks, they held him back and even after David Montgomery went out with an injury the team plugged Craig Reynolds right into Montgomery’s role. If the coaching staff plans around Gibbs getting the bulk of the work Gibbs could be the RB1 for Week 3 in fantasy football.
Also, Amon-Ra St. Brown is possibly playing through a turf toe injury.
Jahmyr Gibbs + Sam LaPorta might see 10 targets apiece. https://t.co/5vkCri996M
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) September 19, 2023
Tyler Allgeier continues to stay relevant next to Bijan Robinson, getting 16 carries in Week 2. Atlanta’s Week 3 matchup against the Lions should be a tough one, but even in a slugfest Atlanta will not abandon the running game, it should be safe to play both running backs. Jerome Ford takes over for Nick Chubb after Chubb’s devastating injury. Ford showed up on Monday night against a tough Steelers defense, rushing for 106 yards and catching three passes and a touchdown. The Titans are a tough matchup this week but as of now, Ford is the guy for Cleveland. Zack Moss showed up big against the Texans in Week 2. Week 3 is a tough matchup against the Ravens but Moss should continue to be the #1 in the absence of Jonathan Taylor. If quarterback Anthony Richardson misses the game it could open up more rushing opportunities for Moss.
Gus Edwards filled in nicely for J.K. Dobbins in Week 2. Edwards split carries with Justice Hill but was the more effective back on the week rushing for 6.2 yards per carry and reaching the end zone. D’Andre Swift was the fourth overall back in Week 2 with a blazing performance on Thursday Night Football. The concern is will Kenneth Gainwell be back, and if he does, will he get the bulk of the work like in Week 1? Either way, Boston Scott may miss the game due to being in the concussion protocol. After last week’s performance, Swift is someone who needs to be started. Isiah Pacheco and the potent Chiefs offense take on the Chicago Bears in Week 3 who have given up an average of 32.5 points in the first two weeks. Pacheco managed 70 yards on the ground against Jacksonville last week and should see plenty of action in Week 3.
Fantasy Football Week 3 Running Back Rankings
Tier 4: Decent Flex Running Backs
25.Alexander Mattison
26. Breece Hall
27. Khalil Herbert
28. Javonte Williams
29. Najee Harris
30. Dameon Pierce
31. A.J. Dillion
32. Justice Hill
33. Kendre Miller*
34. Joshua Kelley
35. Matt Breida
36. Kenneth Gainwell*
Alexander Mattison was a disappointment in Week 2 against a rough Eagles defense on a short week. In Week 3 he gets the Chargers who gave up 140 yards on the ground last week. Breece Hall was seldom used in Week 2 as the Jets were getting blown out early. No reason to risk injury. Week 3 brings them the Patriots who surprisingly are bottom 10 in the league in rush yards allowed. Hall should see more work in Week 3. Khalil Herbert remains part of a struggling offense, he did have 23 yards on his one catch. The Bears will face a tough Chiefs defense in Week 3 that may have them throwing to Herbert more.
Javonte Williams was the only Bronco running back to get more than one carry in Week 2, he should continue to see his workload increase. Najee Harris and this Steelers offense haven’t looked great through two weeks. For now, Najee remains the lead back and did average 4.3 yards per carry against a strong Browns defense. Dameon Pierce isn’t getting much help with a banged-up offensive line. Pierce continues to get the bulk of the work and will have opportunities late in garbage time.
#Broncos RB Javonte Williams says "GET OFF" #NFL #Denver pic.twitter.com/SPYAOq1NYF
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhiferNFL) September 17, 2023
A.J. Dillion is playable with or without Aaron Jones. If Jones is out it bumps Dillion up a little, but even if Jones plays, he could be limited and this has been a timeshare backfield for some time. Justice Hill split carries with Gus Edwards in Week 2 and should continue going forward for a team that loves running the ball. Kendre Miller is still questionable, but with Jamaal Williams likely out due to a hamstring injury, Miller will have an opportunity to prove himself. Tony Jones got two touchdowns in fill-in work on Monday night and the Saints face the Packers who have allowed the third most rushing yards in the NFL in 2023.
Chargers running back Joshua Kelley was a letdown last week filling in for Austin Ekeler. If Ekeler is out again Josh Kelley is playable. Even if Ekeler plays, the Vikings’ defense checks in as the fourth worst so far in 2023, and like Week 1 there should be room for Kelley to score fantasy football points in Week 3. Matt Breida will likely take over for an injured Saquon Barkley for Week 3. Barkley remains questionable and if he plays should be started but on a short week for Thursday Night Football, it’ll likely be Breida. While he isn’t the ideal start, he should get the work if you need to flex him. Kenneth Gainwell deserves a mention after an RB2 performance in Week 1. If Gainwell plays it’s the same roll of the dice as with Swift, but in this potent offense he’s worth a shot.
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