Fantasy Football Must-Starts: RBs You Need to Start in Week 3
Here are the RBs you need to start (and some you need to sit) across this week’s games (this list is for your standard PPR leagues):
Absolute Start Territory — The stud RBs you never worry about starting when they’re healthy:
- Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. New York Jets) — The first overall pick for a reason.
- Kenneth Walker III (@ Miami Dolphins) — He should’ve gone in the 1st round of every fantasy draft and his 57.9 fpts through 2 games (1st in the NFL) are clear evidence of that.
- Jonathan Taylor (vs. Houston Texans) — Even against the dreaded Texans defense, as long as Daniel Jones is healthy, Taylor will put up monster numbers.
- Christian McCaffrey (vs. Arizona Cardinals) — He almost always wreaks havoc against the Cardinals.
- Derrick Henry (@ Dallas Cowboys) — With Flowers likely not to play again this week, Henry should be a lock for another 20+ touches against a defense trying to find its identity.
- James Cook III (vs. Los Angeles Chargers) — we saw him produce plenty on the ground last week and he gets a Chargers defense that seems to have no clue what they’re doing right now.
- Ashton Jeanty (@ New Orleans Saints) — bellcow in a favorable matchup against a weak Saints defense, enough said.
- Chase Brown (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)— even if the fantasy numbers don’t look insane right now, he’s a guy getting 20+ touches on one of the premier offenses in the league and he gets a Steelers defense that should allow him to pop for more explosives.
- De’Von Achane (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)— the offense is clearly holding him back right now, but the workload, talent, and skill will always be there, giving him a safe floor to pair with his obvious big-play upside.
- Saquon Barkley (@ Chicago Bears) — the stinger injury he suffered last week worries me a little in terms of his workload for this week, but assuming he’s healthy, he gets a bottom of the pack Bears defense and is a solid bet to score at least one touchdown.
Strong Start Territory — The low-end RB1s and high-end RB2s you should be starting most weeks:
11. Chuba Hubbard (@ Cleveland Browns) — He’s been cooking lately as the Panthers clear RB1, and with Brooks on IR and a decent matchup against the Browns, he could easily have another top-10 RB finish.
12. Javonte Williams (Brazil game vs. Baltimore Ravens)— Tough defense, but a defense that does allow rushing touchdowns (3 so far to opposing RBs), so you start the guy who gets the goal line work here.
13. Breece Hall (@ Detroit Lions)— He’s gonna get 20+ touches yet again and he gets to face a favorable defense for opposing RBs, lovely spot here.
14. Bucky Irving (vs. Minnesota Vikings)— Do or die game for the 0–2 Bucs here, so they’re gonna have to rely on their guys and Bucky is one of them.
15. Omarion Hampton (@ Buffalo Bills) — Another do or die game here with the Chargers going into Buffalo at 0–2. Hampton just got 25 carries with no clear competition, and despite the fumbling issues, he faces a defense (28th in opposing RB fpts) that will be more than happy allowing him to run. Don’t expect a huge game here, but you should feel confident starting him as your RB2.
16. Kyren Williams (@ Denver Broncos) — Good matchup against the run and he’s just so solid week-to-week.
17. Quinshon Judkins (vs. Carolina Panthers) — Panthers are 31st in allowed fpts to RBs and Judkins is a clear bellcow due for some positive TD regression.
18. Jaylen Warren (vs. Cincinnati Bengals) — With Dowdle out this week, Warren will see the lionshare of touches against a middle of the pack Bengals run defense.
19. Cam Skattebo (vs. Tennessee Titans) — Even with Jameis Winston under center, Skattebo will continue to see the majority of touches and should receive more dump-off receptions in the backfield.
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20. D’Andre Swift (vs. Philadelphia Eagles) — No Caleb and potentially no Bagent as well, so expectations should be pretty low here. He still carries a solid floor and the Bears will likely be forced to try to run the ball a little more here with no solid option under center.
Solid-to-Questionable Start Territory — The low-end RB2s and RB3s you usually start in good matchups or if you don’t have better options for your RB or FLEX spots:
21. Travis Etienne Jr. (vs. Las Vegas Raiders) — this could be a get-right game for him or it could be more of the timeshare splits we’ve been seeing with Kamara and Miller. Because this is a solid offense, I’d start him in your FLEX spot and see what happens.
22. Bhayshul Tuten (vs. New England Patriots) — Tuten has been explosive so far and appears to be pulling away as the RB1 in Jacksonville. The problem is the Patriots run defense has been stout, so start him in FLEX, but don’t get ahead of yourself.
23. Aaron Jones Sr. (@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — He’s getting a ton of carries with Jordan Mason on IR and that won’t stop this week.
24. Jeremiyah Love (@ San Francisco 49ers) — Still splitting some work with Tyler Allgeier and that will likely continue for a while, you still start him because of the talent, but don’t expect 15+ ftps against this 49ers defense.
25. David Montgomery (@ Indianapolis Colts) — Favorable matchup against the Colts in what could be surprisingly high-scoring affair, start him with confidence.
26. Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Jacksonville Jaguars) — I have to give him the benefit of the doubt, the coaching staff seems to trust him a little more in tighter situations, but it probably won’t be pretty with Henderson back in the fold.
27. TreVeyon Henderson (@ Jacksonville Jaguars) — He always has the potential for explosive runs, but it’s a tougher matchup in this one and who knows what the snap split with Rhamondre will be this week.
28. Jadarian Price (@ Washington Commanders) — He’s listed as questionable, but he got a ton of reps over the past week according to Mike Macdonald and should be fine. The Commanders are a tough one though, as they rank #1 in limiting opposing RB fpts.
29. J.K. Dobbins (vs. Los Angeles Rams) — He’ll be a full go and should see most of the work in this backfield. Maybe he scores, maybe he doesn’t, the problem is that his value basically comes in the form of touchdowns, and when those don’t happen, he’s a tough start.
30. Blake Corum (@ Denver Broncos) — Corum looks pretty explosive when given the rock and he gets a very weak run defense to this point in the Broncos.
Don’t Start These Guys Unless Desperate Territory — The RBs you don’t really want in your lineup, try to start a WR over them in your FLEX spot if you can:
- Tony Pollard (@ New York Giants)
- Tyjae Spears (@ New York Giants)
- Alvin Kamara (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
- RJ Harvey (vs. Los Angeles Rams)
- Rachaad White (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
- Emanuel Wilson (@ Washington Commanders)
- Woody Marks (@ Indianapolis Colts)
- Kyle Monangai (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
- Tyler Allgeier (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
Image Sources:
- Jaylen Warren — https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/09/steelers-extend-rb-jaylen-warren
- Bhayshul Tuten — https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/12/jaguars-rb-bhayshul-tuten-to-undergo-surgery-on-injured-finger
- Quinshon Judkins — https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleveland-browns-injuries/117321/browns-rb-quinshon-judkins-injury-update-comment
