Week 3 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

With the fantasy football season underway, Pro Football Network will publish and continuously update our weekly rankings to help you make the most informed start or sit decisions for your fantasy team. We continue with our Week 3 Running Back Rankings for fantasy football. These rankings (at the bottom of the page) are sortable based on either 0.5 or full PPR scoring, so be sure to select the format to have the most accurate rankings possible.

As for running back scoring, it can vary site to site and even league to league. The difference between how many points per reception being the largest differentiating factor. The difference between standard, 0.5 PPR, and full PPR can move players by ten or more spots in rankings based on their involvement in the passing game. Landing guys on your fantasy football roster that can carry the ball and get targets are the key to a successful team. 

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Running Back Fantasy Rankings Highlights for Week 3

RB1 – Derrick Henry (at Minnesota)

In Week 3, we see some new names at the top of rankings due to injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley. The gap between RB1 to RB3 is razor-thin. The factor that puts Derrick Henry at the fantasy RB1 in Week 3 is the matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. 

We have not seen the same player we saw last year who led the NFL in rushing. Henry enters Week 3 with 56 rushes for 200 yards (3.6 avg) but has yet to find the endzone in 2020. I believe this is a “get right” game for Henry, who has 24.5 PPR fantasy points on the season. He will match up against a Vikings defense that gives up on average 22.5 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs.

RB2 – Alvin Kamara (vs Green Bay)

Alvin Kamara is coming off the heels of a monster Week 2 performance where he scored 38.4 PPR points against the Las Vegas Raiders. In a PPR league, I would move Kamara to my RB1 so long as Michael Thomas is out for this game.

Kamara would be a fantasy WR1 before we factor in a single rushing attempt. Thomas’ loss has cast a glaring spotlight on Drew Brees and his inability to push the ball down the field. There is no better running back in the NFL at working the middle of the field than Kamara, and should have an incredible performance against a Green Bay Packers team that gives up the 8th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

RB3 – Ezekiel Elliott (at Seattle)

If you only looked at Seattle ranking as the 6th best against fantasy running backs, you would think you should lower expectations on Ezekiel Elliott. I don’t believe that ranking is an accurate representation of this defensive unit as they have faced the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots so far. The Falcons game was a shootout, and Cam Newton was the Patriots leading rusher.

Even though Elliott has yet to go over 100 yards rushing in a game, his passing work has elevated his floor. Elliott has caught nine of his 11 targets for 64 yards and a touchdown. Elliott has yet to have less than 122 total yards in a game and is one of the safest fantasy options at the running back position.

Week 3: Running Back and Fantasy Football Rankings

Below are rankings for running backs and all other positions. If you need to search for specific player or teams, you can do so using our filters below. Don’t forget to reset them to clear your board and start from the beginning. As injuries and news come in, we will be updating our rankings to make sure you are covered. Please note: On mobile devices, these rankings view best in landscape mode.

Tommy Garrett is a writer for PFN covering Fantasy Football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.