Week 3 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Bucky Irving in Top 5; Jordan Mason, Javonte Williams and More
Morgan gives his week 3 fantasy football rankings for running backs.
Week 3 of the NFL regular season is nearly here, so it's time to start putting together fantasy football rankings for each offensive position.
This week, we will start with the running back spot. We are looking at things from a PPR perspective.
Check out week 3 fantasy football projections for running backs on FantasySP as well.
1. Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs takes my No. 1 spot in week 3 going into a matchup against the Ravens.
Gibbs and the Lions' offense got back on track with a big performance. Baltimore has struggled to slow fantasy running backs so far, and that should help Gibbs to a big week.
I see Taylor going off in a clash against the Titans in week 3.
Tennessee has struggled a bit against opposing backs, and I bet the Colts' offense leans on Taylor in this one. Coming off an elite showing, I have Taylor continuing his hot streak.
Give me Robinson in the third slot going into a clash with the Panthers.
Robinson has been great through two weeks, and in a pretty average matchup, I see him delivering big fantasy points again.
4. Bucky Irving
I have Irving way up at No. 4 this week.
He gets a very favorable matchup against the Jets, and I think the Bucs' back is going to be heavily utilized in a lopsided win.
I'm not as high on CMC as others are this week.
He was held in check as a ball carrier last week, and in an average test against the Cardinals, I see him needing pass-catching numbers to deliver better fantasy results.
Barkley gets a tougher matchup against the Rams in week 3, hence why you see him outside my top 5.
It's actually the toughest matchup a back can have, but with how much he's utilized, there's a good chance Barkley delivers a big fantasy total on volume or a couple scores.
7. James Cook
Cook plays on Thursday night against the Dolphins.
Miami's defense was better in week 2, but still got beat up by RBs pretty good. Cook has been stellar so far, and I think he keeps rolling in week 3.
On the other end of that backfield matchup is Achane.
It's a pretty average matchup on paper, and even with the Dolphins' struggles overall, Achane has remained a top-end fantasy back. Expect him to continue putting up big numbers in this one.
9. Josh Jacobs
Despite the Packers' success through two weeks, Jacobs hasn't been super efficient.
He has a tough matchup against the Browns in week 3, but on volume alone he should deliver a good fantasy score. There's also a good chance he scores another TD to boost his overall number.
10. Derrick Henry
Henry faces a pretty tough test against the Lions in week 3.
Coming off a poor showing against the Browns, I fully expect King Henry to bounce back and deliver a big fantasy total.
11. Chase Brown
Brown has the Vikings in week 3, which is a slightly above-average test.
With Joe Burrow out, it's a mystery what the offense might look like, so that's why I don't have Brown any higher. He should be heavily utilized, which should lead to a good fantasy score.
12. Kyren Williams
Williams has the Eagles in week 3.
That's a tougher matchup, but on volume alone, I expect the Rams' back to post a good fantasy score. Williams could easily finish higher than this with a score.
13. Alvin Kamara
Kamara has a very favorable matchup against the Seahawks in week 3.
If he had a better offense around him, Kamara would rank a lot higher. He still could deliver a monster fantasy score if he's the one scoring the team's touchdowns this weekend.
14. Jordan Mason
Mason gets a massive boost going into week 3 with Aaron Jones Sr. being out.
Mason gets a favorable matchup against the Bengals, setting him up for a big week. Minnesota is never a run-first team under Kevin O'Connell, so that's why I have Mason ranked where I do.
15. Javonte Williams
Williams delivered in weeks 1 and 2, so I'm giving him a nice boost heading into week 3.
He has a favorable matchup against the Bears, and is set up for a nice fantasy performance. Let's hope he can continue his hot start, and maybe find the end zone again.
16. Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard gets a test against the Falcons in week 3.
Atlanta has been stout at slowing opposing backs through two weeks, so it's a tougher test for Hubbard. He should get enough touches to deliver a solid fantasy score still.
17. Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty has to get rolling eventually, right? This still might be too high of a ranking for the rookie.
He has a tougher matchup against the Commanders in week 3. After Geno Smith and the passing game struggled in week 3, and with coach Pete Carroll vowing to get Jeanty more touches, I expect Jeanty to post his best fantasy mark this coming week, but the tough matchup will make it just a so-so score.
18. D'Andre Swift
Swift's matchup against the Cowboys is pretty average on paper.
He's had good usage through two weeks, and looked solid despite the Bears' struggles overall. Swift is a solid asset for the coming week.
19. Breece Hall
After a stellar week 1 showing, Hall was not good in week 2.
He'll look to get back on track in week 3 against the Bucs. That sets up as a pretty favorable matchup, so things are looking better for Hall.
20. Kenneth Walker
Walker wasn't even in my top 30 last week, but he eased my concerns and is looking up going into week 3.
A pretty favorable test against the Saints is a chance for Walker to keep building on his big week 2 outing.
21. James Conner
Conner has been solid through two weeks, but touchdowns have upped his overall marks.
A week 3 test against the Niners is a bit more challenging, but with his TD upside, I'm fine ranking Conner here yet.
22. Jaylen Warren
Warren takes on the Patriots in week 3, which sets up as an average matchup.
Warren was good in week 2, and I'm hoping he turns in another well-rounded performance again.
23. Tony Pollard
Pollard will get the Colts in week 3.
It's another average test, and on volume alone, I see Pollard delivering at least a decent fantasy score this coming week.
24. Travis Etienne
Etienne has a very favorable test against the Texans in week 3.
He's been good through two weeks, and should be involved enough to deliver another solid fantasy score in week 3.
25. Omarion Hampton
After a couple weeks at No. 18, Hampton falls several spots going into week 3.
He has a slightly below-average test coming against the Broncos. Maybe this will finally be the week that Hampton gets rolling.
26. Isiah Pacheco
It's been a tough start to the season for the Chiefs' running backs, but in the best RB matchup against the Giants, it's a chance for Pacheco to get rolling.
If Pacheco had accomplished anything in weeks 1-2, he'd rank a lot higher, so he's a bit of a sleeper in week 3.
27. David Montgomery
Montogmery also got rolling in week 2, and in a good matchup against the Ravens, I expect him to post another top-30 score.
All it would take is a single score to put Montgomery in a good position for the week, and he should rack up enough yards to score more points than that.
28. Rachaad White
I liked what White did last week, and see him continuing that success in week 3 against the Jets.
The matchup is right for him and Irving to both post top-30 scores, and that's what I see happening.
Stevenson gets the nod over TreVeyon Henderson after a nice week 2 outing.
The matchup against the Steelers is pretty average, so I see the Pats' top back delivering a top-30 score. I'll say that top back is Stevenson for a second straight week.
Let's give the Commanders' rookie back some love to cap this week's list.
He looks like the new lead back in Washington after the injury to Austin Ekeler. On volume alone, I see JCM posting a decent fantasy score in a tougher matchup against the Raiders.
