Week 3 Running Back Preview: Fire Up Chuba Hubbard
Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 3
Here are the top Week 3 running backs, with usage and matchup takeaways that power our Week 3 RB rankings.
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1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Gibbs has racked up 56 touches over the first two games. That type of usage will continue to supply the upside to finish as a top-tier fantasy back in any week. The Jets have looked strong against the run thus far, slotting first in run defense DVOA. Still, Gibbs will provide their first true test following matchups with Tennessee and Green Bay.
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Played Thursday night
3. Kenneth Walker, Kansas City Chiefs
Walker has looked like a top-three back through two weeks, posting a league-high 290 yards with an elite missed tackle rate (0.53 per rush). Next up is a Miami defense that remains without key run-stuffing DL Kenneth Grant. The Fins have also allowed the most fantasy points to RBs.
4. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey hasn't handled his typical rushing workload, accounting for 35.1% of the 49ers' rush attempts compared to 64.7% last season. But he's still producing as the RB9 in large part because of a 21.4% target share that ranks fifth among all RBs. The 49ers RB projects as an RB1 in a Week 3 matchup against the Cardinals.
5. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor has remained a consistent top-5 RB while the Colts’ passing game struggles. He has scored multiple TDs in both games this season. He does face a tough matchup against a strong Texans offense that held James Cook to 69 yards last week. Taylor is still a must start with the Colts' reliance on the run, but this could be a week where Taylor underperforms.
6. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Henry continues to shake off any decline risk. He enters Week 3 first in rushing TDs (4), second in rushing yards (212), and fifth in rushing attempts (40). He’s an upside RB1 against a Dallas defense missing several starters, including LB DeMarvion Overshown.
7. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
The Chargers have limited RBs to 3.0 yards per carry through two weeks, one of the very few things that team has done well so far. Still, Cook makes for an easy workload bet in an offense favored by 7.5 points at home. This game should test how good that run D really is.
8. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
The good news is that Jeanty had 25 touches last week against the Chargers. The bad news is that he only had 63 total yards. The OL play for the Raiders was so bad that Jeantay rarely even got to the line of scrimmage before being hit by the defense. He also dropped 3 passes in the game. This is a nice bounce-back opportunity for Jeanty though. The Saints have played poorly against RBs allowing 4.8 yards per carry (26th), though they have faced Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry.
9. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Brown hasn’t rushed for over 82 yards in either game so far this season. He has 80% of RB touches for the Bengals and has run routes on half of the team’s dropbacks. The Steelers are susceptible to the run, giving up 4.3 yards per carry to RBs (23rd in the league). That makes Brown a locked-in RB1 this week.
10. De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Achane has yet to find the end zone in 2026, but it's not for a lack of involvement. He's handled elite RB marks in snap share (83%), carry share (78%), and target share (21%). Miami's offense has afforded only one rush attempt inside the 5 yard-line, and scoring concerns remain with Miami implied for only 17.75 points. Still, Achane’s workload and big-play ability continue to make him a must-start.
11. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley finished Week 2 accounting for just four carries after leaving the game in the first quarter with a stinger before returning in the second half in a limited 11-snap role. The Eagles RB is expected to play on Monday night, where he'll be closer to his Week 1 usage, recording a 60% carry share and 8% target share. Barkley projects as a fringe RB1 in a Week 3 matchup with the Bears.
12. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Hubbard is already sitting ninth among RBs in PPR points and should see an even bigger role with Jonathon Brooks sidelined. The Panthers are 2.5-point favorites on Sunday against the Browns, who sit 28th in our run-defense power rankings and have coughed up 5.0 yards per carry to RBs through two weeks.
13. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas put up 37 points on the Commanders last week, yet Williams finished with only 50 total yards. He’s also tallied just 3.0 yards per carry on the season. It’s too small a sample to generate concern, and the matchup with Baltimore doesn’t look too threatening. The Ravens rank 17th in PFF’s run defense grades and 23rd in run defense DVOA. They should get DT Nnamdi Madubuike back for this game, but his snaps figure to be limited. Williams ultimately shakes out as a useful RB2.
14. Breece Hall, New York Jets
Braelon Allen stole a TD last week, but you have to be encouraged by Hall’s workload. He's hit 24 and 21 touches to open the season while garnering a decent 12% target share. Next up is a Lions unit that just allowed a big 21-135-1 line to James Cook.
15. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Williams ranks as the RB14 with 15.6 PPR points per game, despite being the second-leading rusher on his own offense. Blake Corum has been the more efficient rusher this season, but Williams holds a 100% rush TD share and 8.5% target share that keeps him much closer RB1 production. Efficiency will be hard to come by against a Broncos defense that allowed the second fewest rushing last season, leaving Williams projected as an RB2 in Week 3.
16. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rico Dowdle is likely to miss this week, which could make Warren a solid RB2. He played 71.6% of snaps in Week 2 and totaled 77 yards. The Bengals have been a surprisingly strong run defense with DT Dexter Lawrence. They have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league at 78. Warren’s appeal may come as a receiver, with the Bengals allowing 15 RB catches over two weeks, most in the league.
17. Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
Skattebo is handling a 51.7% carry share that is expected to increase with QB Jaxson Dart out for the season, who accounted for a 29.7% carry share of his own in Week 1. After the Giants RB didn't account for a target in Week 1, he earned a 12.5% target share in Week 2. Skattebo projects as an RB2 against a Titans defense in Week 3.
18. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
Hampton gets a non-scary Bills defense but sits in just mid-RB2 territory because of his offense and role. The Chargers arrive as 7.5-point underdogs, which could especially challenge Hampton's usage. He sits just 37th among RBs in route rate and 46th in target share. That could prove particularly damaging for Hampton if the Chargers fall behind at Buffalo. Hampton's usable but lands in just mid-RB2 territory.
19. D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
Only four RBs are averaging higher than Swift's 22.7 PPR points per game to begin the season. Swift is running hot with a 7.5% TD rate that ranks seventh among all RBs. But facing an Eagles defense that's allowed only one rush TD to RBs, will make scoring tougher. He projects as an RB2 in a Week 3 matchup with the Eagles.
20. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Irving gets a difficult matchup with the Vikings this week, but he arrives ranked 16th among all RBs in carry share and tied for the most receptions at the position. That makes him resistant to negative gameflow for his offense.
21. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
It’s been ugly for Judkins so far: 54 rushing yards on 2.3 yards per carry. But he’s handled 56% of Browns carries, the 15th-highest share in the league, and totaled 7 targets on a 12.9% share, also 15th among RBs. The role is solid, and QB Deshaun Watson has played surprisingly well. Look for Judkins to get going at home vs. the Panthers on Sunday. The Browns are only 2.5-point underdogs in this one.
22. Travis Etienne, New Orleans Saints
Etienne only played 54.4% of snaps last week with Alvin Kamara and CJ Donaldson cutting into his snaps. That led to 30.8% carry share in the game. That’s a problem. There’s one potential lifeline for Etienne: The Saints have trailed on 78% of their offensive snaps through two games, the fifth-highest rate in the league. That’s damaging game script for Etienne’s current role. That could happen with the Saints being 3 point favorites in this game. It is worth giving Etienne one more shot as a low-end RB2.
23. David Montgomery, Houston Texans
After a 3-TD Week 1, Montgomery came back to earth in Week 2. He only had 8 touches for 24 yards and struggled to pick up first downs consistently throughout the game. Montgomery continues to split snaps with Woody Marks. Montgomery has played 51.5% of snaps this season while Marks has played 47.8%. The Colts have struggled against the run so far this season (29th in fantasy points given up to RBs), but also faced elite RBs in Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker III. That makes Montgomery a TD-dependent RB2.
24. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings say Jones will play through his knee issue in Sunday's game against the Bucs. "I finished the game in Chicago, so in my mind I was always good to go for this week," Jones told reporters after Friday's practice, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Jones racked up 23 carries at Chicago last week with Jordan Mason out.
25. Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
After accounting for a 32.4% carry share and being out-carried by Tyler Allgeier in Week 1, Love handled a majority of the rush attempts in Week 2. Unfortunately, his 52.9% carry share last week came against a Seahawks defense that allowed the third fewest rushing yards a season ago. Love's uptick in usage, both his carry share and target share, gives him an RB2 projection against the 49ers in Week 3.
26. Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tuten’s role has held steady through 2 games. He’s played about half of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps, handled about half of the team’s carries, and run a route on about a third of the pass plays. That has him 25th among RBs in expected PPR points and 19th in actual points. Next up for Tuten is a Patriots squad that’s been mediocre vs. the run so far, ranking 13th in our Run Defense Power Rankings.
27. Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks
Even if Price plays through the chest injury that knocked him out of Week 2 early, there's potential for the team to limit his workload and/or the rookie to be working on a pain-tolerance scale. The upside to the matchup keeps him close to the bottom of RB2 range, but the risk keeps Price from climbing higher in our ranks.
28. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Stevenson got just 5 more touches after fumbling on New England’s first possession last week. That adds workload risk to his Week 3 outlook. But it’s worth noting that the Patriots went back to Stevenson as their lead back in both games after he lost fumbles last season. We’re expecting him to get plenty of work, but the matchup vs. Jacksonville is tough. The Jaguars ranked eighth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs last year and have opened this season allowing just 3.2 yards per carry to RBs.
29. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
Henderson took over New England’s backfield after Rhamondre Stevenson’s first-quarter fumble last week, carrying 16 times for 76 yards and a score. He continued to lose passing-down work to Stevenson, though, and finished without a target. It’s tough to project how carries will be split this week, but it’s worth noting that the Patriots went back to Stevenson as their lead back in both games after he lost fumbles last season. Henderson also gets a tough matchup against the Jaguars, who ranked eighth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs last year and have opened this season allowing just 3.2 yards per carry to RBs.
30. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Pollard is handling the majority of rush attempts for the Titans with a 48.8% carry share. But it's come as part of an offense that's struggling to move the ball, with the team gaining the second fewest yards of any offense. Fortunately, Pollard faces a Giants defense that has allowed the fifth most points to RBs, leaving him with an RB3 projection in Week 3.
31. RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
Harvey missed last week's game against the Jaguars with a hamstring injury, but is available this week. The second-year RB produced more as a receiver than as a rusher in Week 1, tallying four targets compared to three rush attempts. Which is something Harvey did last year, producing more points as a receiver than a rusher, on his way to an RB2 season. The Broncos RB projects as an RB3 in a Week 3 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Rams.
32. Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
Corum leads the Rams in rushing yards despite Kyren Williams handling more carries. Unfortunately, rushing efficiency alone doesn't translate to high-ranking fantasy production. Corum is producing just 1.2 receiving PPR points per game. For reference, every RB that ranked in the top 40 last season produced a higher receiving PPR points per game mark. Corum projects as a fringe RB3 in a Week 3 matchup against the Broncos.
33. Woody Marks, Houston Texans
Marks has been in a fairly even split with David Montgomery this year. Montgomery has played 51.5% of snaps this season while Marks has played 47.8%. Marks only has 50 rushing and 25 receiving yards through two games, but the snaps have been there. He could get a few catches this week as the receiving back for the team (with Nico Collins likely out again). He can be an RB3 in PPR leagues.
34. Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
Monangai has been the second option in the Bears backfield as both a rusher and receiver, with his 28.6% carry share and 6.3% target share only trailing D'Andre Swift. The second-year RB finished as an RB1 in Week 1, in large part to a 61-yard TD run that accounted for 59.3% of his PPR points. Monangai projects as an RB3 in Week 3 versus the Eagles.
35. J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
Dobbins has accounted for the majority of the Broncos rush attempts with a 41.9% carry share. But he's yet to command a target or score a TD through the first two weeks, leaving him ranked as the RB59 with 3.6 PPR points per game. The Broncos leading rusher projects as an RB4 in Week 3, facing a tough Rams defense on Sunday Night Football.
36. Rachaad White, Washington Commanders
White caught six balls to lead his team in an ugly loss at Dallas last week. Now comes what should be an even more favorable spot for RB receptions. The Seahawks arrive as 7.5-point favorites and have allowed the third-most RB receptions through two weeks. They led the league in that category last season. That doesn't make White a safe or strong play. But he presents more PPR appeal than most RB3 types.
37. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
Croskey-Merritt loses some appeal in a matchup expected to go heavily in Seattle's favor. If Washington trails, Rachaad White becomes more likely to gain snaps (passing situations). White also led JCM in Week 2 goal-line usage. That will be an aspect to watch going forward.
38. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Similar to the first three years of Spears' career, he's producing more PPR points per game as a receiver than as a rusher. His 11.5% target share ranks 19th among all RBs and he faces a Giants defense that's allowed the eighth most receiving yards. Spears holds a fringe RB3 projection in Week 3.
39. Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals
After handling a 50% carry share in 17-11 split advantage with Jeremiyah Love in Week 1, Allgeier was out-carried by the rookie RB in a 9-5 split in Week 2. If Allgeier doesn't have a majority carry share, production is hard to come by as his receiving usage is limited. The fifth-year RB hasn't averaged more than 2 targets per game in a season. Allgeier projects as an RB4 in Week 3.
40. Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson followed up a 10-touch opener with only 4 touches against the Colts in Week 2. Still, he remains a fringe flex option against perhaps the league’s worst defensive roster in Miami. There’s also a chance we see his usage swing back toward Week 1. "I think Emmett will continue to get more snaps, and that will take a little bit of the load off Kenny [Walker]," HC Andy Reid said via SI. "He wants that ball every play, Ken does. He's not asking to be relieved or anything else. But I think as it goes on, you get a nice balance with those two in there, and then it keeps them even more fresh as the season goes on."
41. Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers
After leading the 49ers in rush attempts in Week 1, Black was out-carried by McCaffrey in a 10-7 split last week. The Rookie RB has accounted for just one target in two games, leaving his production fully reliant on rushing. In a Week 3 matchup against the Cardinals, Black projects as an RB4.
42. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kamara played 29.4% of snaps last week but led the Saints with a 34.6% carry share. The Saints used Kamara often while trailing throughout the game, but he turned 14 touches into just 22 yards. The usage was good, but Kamara looks to lack the big play potential of his past. He is a desperate RB4 play this week.
43. Kenneth Gainwell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gainwell seemed likely to at least cut into Bucky Irving's receiving work after signing with the Bucs. But after two games, Irving sits tied for the league RB reception lead. Gainwell has just 4 catches and 7 carries. He's a straight handcuff for now.
44. Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers
Played Thursday night
45. Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
Hill’s mere 3 catches plus his 3.0 yards per carry through two games makes him unusable as a standalone. The positive: Hill has played just 10 fewer snaps than Derrick Henry so far, with no other Baltimore RB seeing the field. He’s the clear handcuff right now, at least.
46. Christopher Brooks, Green Bay Packers
Played Thursday night
47. Keaton Mitchell, Los Angeles Chargers
Mitchell played exactly 17 snaps in each of the first two games. That hasn’t amounted to a usable offensive role, but he’s at least playing clearly ahead of Kimani Vidal. That includes 10-0 lead in touches.
48. MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers
Played Thursday night
49. Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson would obviously benefit if Jadarian Price's chest injury cuts down his playing time at all. But it's tough to count on the vet getting much work if the rookie's active. If you're reaching desperately for an RB option, there's a chance Wilson gets some run in the second half if Seattle builds a big lead on the Commanders. That would likely mean more rushing for the offense and present the opportunity to rest Price.
50. Braelon Allen, New York Jets
Allen has garnered just a 26% carry share and a 4% target share through two games. Keep him rostered as an upside backup behind Breece Hall but leave him on benches against Detroit.
