Injuries to both Christian McCaffrey and Isiah Pacheco leave vacant leading back roles available in two of the most high-powered offenses in the league, which means you will likely see some new faces in the Week 3 fantasy football rankings at the RB position.
Here is a closer look at my fantasy football RB rankings for Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season.
Top 50 Fantasy RB Rankings
FIND MORE POSITIONAL RANKINGS: QB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Flex | SF
1) De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins (at SEA)
2) Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints (vs. PHI)
3) Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles (at NO)
4) Breece Hall | New York Jets (vs. NE)
5) Kenneth Walker III | Seattle Seahawks (vs. MIA)
6) Jordan Mason | San Francisco 49ers (at LAR)
7) Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions (at ARI)
8) Travis Etienne Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (at BUF)
9) Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons (vs. KC)
10) Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts (vs. CHI)
11) Josh Jacobs | Green Bay Packers (at TEN)
12) James Cook | Buffalo Bills (vs. JAX)
13) James Conner | Arizona Cardinals (vs. DET)
14) Joe Mixon | Houston Texans (at MIN)
15) Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens (at DAL)
16) Tony Pollard | Tennessee Titans (vs. GB)
17) Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams (vs. SF)
18) Rachaad White | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. DEN)
19) Rhamondre Stevenson | New England Patriots (at NYJ)
20) Brian Robinson Jr. | Washington Commanders (vs. CIN)
21) J.K. Dobbins | Los Angeles Chargers (at PIT)
22) Najee Harris | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. LAC)
23) D’Andre Swift | Chicago Bears (at IND)
24) Zamir White | Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CAR)
25) Aaron Jones | Minnesota Vikings (vs. HOU)
26) David Montgomery | Detroit Lions (at ARI)
27) Zack Moss | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. WAS)
28) Carson Steele | Kansas City Chiefs (at ATL)
29) Jerome Ford | Cleveland Browns (vs. NYG)
30) Zach Charbonnet | Seattle Seahawks (vs. MIA)
31) Jaylen Warren | Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. LAC)
32) Javonte Williams | Denver Broncos (at TB)
33) Ezekiel Elliott | Dallas Cowboys (vs. BAL)
34) Bucky Irving | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. DEN)
35) Jaleel McLaughlin | Denver Broncos (at TB)
36) Ty Chandler | Minnesota Vikings (vs. HOU)
37) Devin Singletary | New York Giants (at CLE)
38) Austin Ekeler | Washington Commanders (vs. CIN)
39) Tyjae Spears | Tennessee Titans (vs. GB)
40) Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers (at LV)
41) Alexander Mattison | Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CAR)
42) Gus Edwards | Los Angeles Chargers (at PIT)
43) Rico Dowdle | Dallas Cowboys (vs. BAL)
44) Chase Brown | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. WAS)
45) Justice Hill | Baltimore Ravens (at DAL)
46) Samaje Perine | Kansas City Chiefs (at ATL)
47) Tank Bigsby | Jacksonville Jaguars (at BUF)
48) Braelon Allen | New York Jets (vs. NE)
49) Miles Sanders | Carolina Panthers (at LV)
50) Trey Benson | Arizona Cardinals (vs. DET)
The Top RBs To Start in Week 3
De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
The potential loss of Tua Tagovailoa under center should cause some concern about the overall production of this Miami Dolphins offense, but I could see a world where De’Von Achane is leaned on heavily with Skylar Thompson under center in Week 3.
Achane saw a career-high 29 total touches (22 carries and seven receptions) in Week 2, which makes him the likely candidate to be the featured player in this offense if Tagovailoa is unavailable for the matchup against the Seattle Seahawks this week.
What is just as encouraging is Achane’s production and involvement in the passing game through the first two games with a minimum of seven receptions for 69 yards in both contests.
MORE: Kyle Soppe’s Week 3 Start/Sit Advice for Every Fantasy-Relevant Player
The Seattle defense allowed the Patriots’ offense to run for 185 yards in Week 2, which could be the formula for the Dolphins managing to steal a win on the road with a backup quarterback under center.
Last week we saw what a gifted offensive-minded coach could do with a backup quarterback in Green Bay, which was to lean on a leading back in Josh Jacobs to the tune of 32 rushes for 151 yards in a winning effort against the Indianapolis Colts.
If Raheem Mostert is out again this week, then expect Achane to see another busy day at the office in Week 3.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints’ offense is absolutely humming under its new offensive coordinator, and Alvin Kamara has been one of the biggest fantasy benefactors from this schematic change.
The offensive line looks like it has vastly improved from last year with the addition of Taliese Fuaga, which has helped Kamara’s yards per carry jump from 3.86 last season up to 5.66 over his 35 carries in 2024.
Kamara has still been involved in the passing attack with seven receptions for 92 yards, which has helped him produce five TDs through the first two games of the season.
I am fully aware the Philadelphia Eagles defense isn’t exactly a cupcake matchup on paper, but Kamara’s multi-faceted skill set behind a vastly improved offensive line makes him a top-three play at the RB position in Week 3.