Fantasy Football Week 3 Running Back Rankings

The 2024-25 NFL season has begun which means fantasy football is back! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. This makes it the appropriate time of year to begin deferring from some of the players originally drafted to be starters and play some of the players that have overperformed this season as opposed to performing at their preseason expectation. Since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 3 running back rankings.

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.

Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Running Back Rankings

Players that could miss this week’s game

RB16 Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

Kenneth Walker III missed last week’s game against the New England Patriots with an abdomen injury. He is still considered day-to-day because of the injury. If Walker III misses Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins Zach Charbonnet moves up to RB18 between Brian Robinson Jr. and James Conner.

Houston Texans Running Backs: RB17 Joe Mixon & RB63 Dameon Pierce

Joe Mixon suffered an ankle injury last week against the Chicago Bears. Dameon Pierce missed last week’s game against the Chicago Bears with a hamstring injury. If both Mixon and Pierce miss Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings Cam Akers becomes RB32 between Najee Harris and Carson Steele. Dare Ogunbowale becomes RB53 between Jamaal Williams and Tyler Algeier.

If Pierce plays but Mixon is inactive Pierce becomes RB37 between Zach Charbonnet and Bucky Irving. Akers becomes RB51 between Chase Brown and Alexander Mattison.

If Mixon plays but Pierce is inactive Akers become RB62 between Blake Corum and Trey Sermon.

RB21 Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rachaad White suffered a groin injury last week against the Detroit Lions. His injury isn’t expected to hold him out of this week’s game. If White misses Week 3 against the Denver Broncos Bucky Irving moves up to RB24 between Devin Singletary and J.K. Dobbins.

RB39 Tyjae Spears, Tenessee Titans

Tyjae Spears suffered an ankle injury last week against the New York Jets. He is considered day-to-day with the injury. If Spears misses Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers Julius Chestnut will be the backup running back for Tony Pollard.

Miami Dolphins Running Backs: RB42 Raheem Mostert & RB60 Jeff Wilson Jr.

Raheem Mostert missed last week’s game against the Buffalo Bills with a chest injury. Jeff Wilson Jr. suffered an oblique injury last week against the Buffalo Bills. If both Mostert and Wilson Jr. miss Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks Jaylen Wright becomes RB40 between Tyjae Spears and Ty Chandler.

If Mostert misses Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks and Wilson Jr. is active, Wilson Jr. moves up to RB49 between Justice Hill and Chase Brown. Jaylen Wright becomes to RB59 between Kyle Juszczyk and Kareem Hunt.

If Wilson Jr. misses Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks and Mostert is active, Jaylen Wright becomes to RB59 between Kyle Juszczyk and Kareem Hunt.

RB52 Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tank Bigsby suffered a shoulder injury last week against the Cleveland Browns. If Bigsby misses Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills D’Ernest Johnson becomes the backup running back to Travis Etienne Jr.

RB59 Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs signed Kareem Hunt to their practice squad following the injury to Isiah Pacheco. It is unlikely he see’s a lot of work this upcoming week. There is a chance he does not suit up for Kansas City this week as he works himself back up to game speed.

Players that are currently not expected to play

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Before last week’s game the San Francisco 49ers put Christian McCaffrey on Injured Reserve. He is expected to be out at least six weeks. In McCaffrey’s absense Jordan Mason will continue to be the team’s primary ballhandler.

Isaiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

Last week against the Cincinnati Bengals Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula. He was placed on Injured Reserve and is expected to miss at least six weeks due to the injury. Kansas City will likely have a backfield by comittee for the next few weeks while Pacheco is out due to the issues going on with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Samaje Perine, Carson Steele, and recently signed Kareem Hunt are expected to split carries until Pacheco or Edwards-Helaire comes back.

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