We are now in the third week of the fantasy football season. As always, it is crucial to know what players are the preferable starts. Taking player talent, performance, and matchup into account, here are my Week 3 RB rankings.
Top 60 Fantasy RB Rankings
1) Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons (vs. KC)
2) Breece Hall | New York Jets (vs. NE)
3) De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins (at SEA)
4) Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions (at ARI)
5) Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles (at NO)
6) Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints (vs. PHI)
7) Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams (vs. SF)
8) Jordan Mason | San Francisco 49ers (at LAR)
9) Josh Jacobs | Green Bay Packers (at TEN)
10) Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts (vs. CHI)
11) James Cook | Buffalo Bills (vs. JAX)
12) James Conner | Arizona Cardinals (vs. DET)
13) Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens (at DAL)
14) Travis Etienne Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (at BUF)
15) Brian Robinson Jr. | Washington Commanders (vs. CIN)
16) David Montgomery | Detroit Lions (at ARI)
17) Rhamondre Stevenson | New England Patriots (at NYJ)
18) Aaron Jones | Minnesota Vikings (vs. HOU)
19) Tony Pollard | Tennessee Titans (vs. GB)
20) Jerome Ford | Cleveland Browns (vs. NYG)
21) Zack Moss | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. WAS)
22) Zach Charbonnet | Seattle Seahawks (vs. MIA)
23) Rachaad White | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. DEN)
24) Najee Harris | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. LAC)
25) J.K. Dobbins | Los Angeles Chargers (at PIT)
26) Zamir White | Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CAR)
27) Cam Akers | Houston Texans (at MIN)
28) Jaylen Warren | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. LAC)
29) D’Andre Swift | Chicago Bears (at IND)
30) Javonte Williams | Denver Broncos (at TB)
31) Devin Singletary | New York Giants (at CLE)
32) Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers (at LV)
33) Austin Ekeler | Washington Commanders (vs. CIN)
34) Carson Steele | Kansas City Chiefs (at ATL)
35) Tyjae Spears | Tennessee Titans (vs. GB)
36) Ty Chandler | Minnesota Vikings (vs. HOU)
37) Bucky Irving | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. DEN)
38) Ezekiel Elliott | Dallas Cowboys (vs. BAL)
39) Gus Edwards | Los Angeles Chargers (at PIT)
40) Rico Dowdle | Dallas Cowboys (vs. BAL)
41) Chase Brown | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. WAS)
42) Justice Hill | Baltimore Ravens (at DAL)
43) Tyler Allgeier | Atlanta Falcons (vs. KC)
44) Braelon Allen | New York Jets (vs. NE)
45) Samaje Perine | Kansas City Chiefs (at ATL)
46) Alexander Mattison | Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CAR)
47) Jaleel McLaughlin | Denver Broncos (at TB)
48) Tank Bigsby | Jacksonville Jaguars (at BUF)
49) Antonio Gibson | New England Patriots (at NYJ)
50) Trey Benson | Arizona Cardinals (vs. DET)
51) Khalil Herbert | Chicago Bears (at IND)
52) Emanuel Wilson | Green Bay Packers (at TEN)
53) Jeff Wilson Jr. | Miami Dolphins (at SEA)
54) Miles Sanders | Carolina Panthers (at LV)
55) Ray Davis | Buffalo Bills (vs. JAX)
56) Jaylen Wright | Miami Dolphins (at SEA)
57) Jamaal Williams | New Orleans Saints (vs. PHI)
58) Cordarrelle Patterson | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. LAC)
59) D’Onta Foreman | Cleveland Browns (vs. NYG)
60) Tyrone Tracy Jr. | New York Giants (at CLE)
The Top Running Backs To Start in Week 3
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders (at CIN)
The fantasy community appears to have underrated Brian Robinson Jr. for a second consecutive year. Although he won’t face the New York Giants every week, there’s nothing flukey about Robinson’s 17 carries for 133 yards from Week 2.
The Washington Commanders’ backfield has been pretty predictable so far. Robinson is the early-down and goal-line back, while Austin Ekeler is the passing-down back. That is the role Ekeler wants to play at this point in his career, and it’s been working out.
I do worry there’s a chance the Bengals could completely blow the doors off the Commanders this week and put up 35+ points. That might take Robinson out of the game early. But when he’s in, he should thrive.
The Cincinnati Bengals continue to struggle against the run, as they did last season. Last week, Isiah Pacheco ran for 90 yards on 19 carries. That was one week after Rhamondre Stevenson ripped off 120 yards on 25 attempts. I do believe Robinson’s talent level is on par with those two. Fire up Robinson and hope the game stays competitive long enough for him to produce RB1 numbers.
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CAR)
Last week, Zamir White was a very easy fade. He is going to end up disappointing fantasy managers on the season, but there will be situations where he is a very appetizing option. This week looks to be one of them.
The 2024 Carolina Panthers are an early candidate to be one of the worst teams in NFL history. Part of their many, many problems is their inability to stop the run.
Last week, J.K. Dobbins ran the ball 17 times for 131 yards and a touchdown. In Week 1, Alvin Kamara had 83 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushes. It’s only been two weeks, but they’ve allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs.
White hasn’t been able to get going because the Raiders haven’t had many moments for a positive game script. The Panthers will be better offensively with Andy Dalton (they can’t be worse), but the Raiders should still avoid a negative game script in this one. They should be able to execute the offense they want, allowing White to see his biggest workload of the season. I’m expecting him to find the end zone this week.