Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 3: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 3: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

Last week saw a bit of normalcy for pass-catching running backs, as 14 RBs received at least five targets, and aside from Derrick Henry (huh?) and maybe JaMycal Hasty, they were players you'd expect. There were a few disappointments (Nyheim Hines chief among them), but this kind of status quo made it a bit easier to put together our Week 3 fantasy RB PPR rankings.

Of course, each week brings a new set of ranking challenges, and matchups are the eternal variable. We're still learning about run defenses, but some of the seemingly "safer" matchups go to guys who inherently move down in PPR rankings, such as Ty'Son Williams and Latavius Murray (@ Lions), Josh Jacobs (vs. Dolphins), and James Conner (@ Jaguars). At least we can give bumps to Jacobs' and Conner's pass-catching teammates, Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds, but neither has established themselves as TD threats, so they're merely flex plays, at best. (Update: Jacobs has been ruled "doubtful.")

WEEK 3 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Among the usual PPR risers, Devin Singletary (vs. Washington), Myles Gaskin (@ Raiders), James White (vs. Saints), and Mike Davis/Cordarrelle Patterson (@ Giants) are either coming off good games or have solid matchups, so they should once again be in play as RB2s or flexes. Patterson is especially interesting after his breakout two-TD game against a tough Bucs defense. Hines (@ Titans) also has a good matchup, but after just two touches and 22 total yards, he's a risky start. Chances are, he'll bounce back with a vintage five- or six-catch game, but do you really want to bet on that in your flex spot?

WEEK 3 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

J.D. McKissic (@ Bills) is another classic PPR back who had a big Week 2, but he did virtually all of his damage late in the second and fourth quarters last week. If he doesn't get that cheap production again, will he be useless like he was in Week 1? That's the only thing stopping us from ranking him as a flex, but if you feel confident, then by all means use him. 

WEEK 3 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo

We're giving one more chance to Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Chargers) in the top 25, but that's largely because of the matchup. He's disappointed two weeks in a row and didn't even see a target last week. The days of thinking he would be a PPR monster are over, but he's due to improve after an embarrassing start to the season. The same is true for Saquon Barkley (vs. Falcons), who gets extra rest and a favorable matchup in what should be a breakout Week 3.

MORE WEEK 3 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder

We're monitoring several injury situations, including Jacobs (foot) and Darrell Henderson (ribs), and we're also doing our best to figure out committee situations with the Jets, Broncos, Bucs, and ... Cowboys? Yes, Tony Pollard is suddenly in play as a strong flex after outshining Ezekiel Elliott early in the season. We still have Zeke (vs. Eagles) ranked noticeably higher, but Pollard clearly isn't going away. The same is true for Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon (vs. Jets) in Denver. We'll continue ranking the rookie higher as long as his carries are on par with Gordon, but the veteran has roughly the same value most weeks. Against the Jets, they can both be used, but we don't like any of the Jets' RBs against the Broncos. We also don't like Ronald Jones Jr., as he seems to be playing second fiddle to Leonard Fournette (@ Rams), who's a better PPR play anyway.

WEEK 3 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

Overall, the PPR aspect doesn't change up the top of the RB rankings too much, at least in terms of names. The order is different, but the studs are the studs. As soon as you get past the top 16 or so, things become murkier. A few catches can really affect things. Of course, matchups and scoring opportunities remain king, even in PPR, so until we see a bigger body of consistent receiving work, we won't react too strongly to a couple of particularly good or bad weeks in the receiving game.

Note: We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings as needed throughout the week. so check back for the latest changes. For individual analysis of key RBs, click here.

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 3: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring

Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey CAR @ HOU
2 Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. SEA
3 Alvin Kamara, NO @ NE
4 Derrick Henry, TEN vs. IND
5 David Montgomery, CHI @ CLE
6 Nick Chubb, CLE vs. CHI
7 Austin Ekeler, LAC @ KC
8 Miles Sanders, PHI @ DAL
9 Najee Harris, PIT vs. CIN
10 Aaron Jones, GB @ SF
11 Jonathan Taylor, IND @ TEN
12 Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. ATL
13 D'Andre Swift, DET vs. BAL
14 Joe Mixon, CIN @ PIT
15 Antonio Gibson, WAS @ BUF
16 Chris Carson, SEA @ MIN
17 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL vs. PHI
18 James Robinson, JAX vs. ARI
19 Devin Singletary, BUF vs. WAS
20 Myles Gaskin, MIA @ LV
21 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC vs. LAC
22 Javonte Williams, DEN vs. NYJ
23 Trey Sermon, SF vs. GB
24 Damien Harris, NE vs. NO
25 Leonard Fournette, TB @ LAR
26 James White, NE vs. NO
27 Kareem Hunt, CLE vs. CHI
28 Ty'Son Williams, BAL @ DET
29 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. NYJ
30 Tony Pollard, DAL vs. PHI
31 Chase Edmonds, ARI @ JAX
32 Mike Davis, ATL @ NYG
33 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL @ NYG
34 Michael Carter, NYJ @ DEN
35 Kenyan Drake, LV vs. MIA
36 Nyheim Hines, IND @ TEN
37 Latavius Murray, BAL @ DET
38 Jamaal Williams, DET vs. BAL
39 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI @ DAL
40 James Conner, ARI @ JAX
41 JD McKissic, WAS @ BUF
42 Ty Johnson, NYJ @ DEN
43 Mark Ingram, HOU vs. CAR
44 Darrell Henderson, LAR vs. TB
45 Ronald Jones II, TB @ LAR
46 Sony Michel, LAR vs. TB
47 Peyton Barber, LV vs. MIA
48 AJ Dillon, GB @ SF
49 David Johnson, HOU vs. CAR
50 Phillip Lindsay, HOU vs. CAR
51 Tony Jones Jr., NO @ NE
52 Damien Williams, CHI @ CLE
53 Giovani Bernard, TB @ LAR
54 Zack Moss, BUF vs. WAS
55 Alexander Mattison, MIN vs. SEA
56 Carlos Hyde, JAX vs. ARI
57 Darrel Williams, KC vs. LAC
58 Trenton Cannon, SF vs. GB
59 Larry Rountree III, LAC @ KC
60 Alex Collins, SEA @ MIN
61 Devonta Freeman, BAL @ DET
62 Samaje Perine, CIN @ PIT
63 Jacques Patrick, SF vs. GB
64 Justin Jackson, LAC @ KC
65 J.J. Taylor, NE vs. NO
66 Salvon Ahmed, MIA @ LV
67 Jeremy McNichols, TEN vs. IND
68 Devontae Booker, NYG vs. ATL
69 Malcolm Brown, MIA @ LV
70 Marlon Mack, IND @ TEN
71 Benny Snell Jr., PIT vs. CIN
72 Chuba Hubbard, CAR @ HOU

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.