Week 3 Fantasy RB PPR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts

Jacob Camenker

Week 3 Fantasy RB PPR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts image

After last week, there should be some more confidence in projecting which running backs actually move up in PPR formats. As much as projections can be made about top receiving backs, it takes time to actually see who garners targets, especially when there isn't a preseason. Additionally, injuries are having a major impact at the RB position, so our Week 3 fantasy RB PPR rankings will try to take that into account while balancing carries, targets, and touchdown chances.

This week, Austin Ekeler will be a top-10 back in PPR, as his matchup with the Panthers is excellent, but after losing the carry battle (and, more important, the goal-line carry battle) to teammate Joshua Kelley last week, the rookie is also in play as an RB 2. Kareem Hunt will continue to be highly rated in PPR formats despite Nick Chubb also having plenty of value. The two have been splitting snaps, and the matchup against Washington and their tough defensive line figures to even out the values of the two.

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

Per usual, James White (vs. Raiders), Tarik Cohen (@ Falcons), and D'Andre Swift (@ Cardinals) all move up into flex range because of their pass-catching abilities. The rise of White and Swift push down Sony Michel and Adrian Peterson/Kerryon Johnson since they don't soak up a lot of targets. (Update: White is out for Week 3.)

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

As for some of the injury-impacted backfields, it's hard to know exactly how the pecking order will shake out. Wayne Gallman and Dion Lewis will battle for playing time, while the Rams, with Cam Akers ailing after a rib injury, could rely more on Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. Each player could emerge as a decent flex, but knowing the potential carry split will be important as fantasy owners look to make key lineup decisions. The same is true in Buffalo, where Devin Singletary has a little more value than Zack Moss in PPR, but Moss might be more likely to score. (Update: Akers and Moss are out for Week 3.)

WEEK 3 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: Yahoo | DraftKings | FanDuel

Jerick McKinnon (@ Giants) is moving up regardless of Raheem Mostert's status, but he will move up even more if Raheem Mostert (knee) is ruled out. (Update: Mostert and Tevin Coleman are both expected to miss Week 3, making McKinnon a must-start in PPR leagues). Myles Gaskin (@ Jaguars) is also moving up, but with an unappealing three-headed "monster" in Miami, it's tough to recommend starting him. The Bucs backfield is also a tough one for PPR owners to figure, as LeSean McCoy is the best pass-catcher, but it seems clear that Leonard Fournette, who was a big receiver last year in Jacksonville, is about to get more playing time. Fortunately, both Fournette and Ronald Jones II can be used against Denver this week.

WEEK 3 DFS CASH LINEUPS: Yahoo | DraftKingsFanDuel

Reminder: Check back for updates during the week. For individual analysis of key RBs, click here.

MORE WEEK 3 DFS: Best stacks | Best valuesLineup Builder

Week 3 Fantasy RB PPR Rankings

These rankings are for full-point PPR leagues.

WEEK 3: Sleepers | BustsStart 'em, sit 'em

Rank Player
1 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ SEA
2 Kenyan Drake, ARZ vs. DET
3 Alvin Kamara, NO vs. GB
4 Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. CAR
5 Jonathan Taylor, IND vs. NYJ
6 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC @ BAL
7 Derrick Henry, TEN @ MIN
8 Miles Sanders, PHI vs. CIN
9 Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. TEN
10 David Montgomery, CHI @ ATL
11 Aaron Jones, GB @ NO
12 Josh Jacobs, LV @ NE
13 Joe Mixon, CIN @ PHI
14 James Conner, PIT vs. HOU
15 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. TB
16 Nick Chubb, CLE vs. WAS
17 Chris Carson, SEA vs. DAL
18 Jerick McKinnon, SF @ NYG
19 Devin Singletary, BUF vs. LAR
20 Todd Gurley, ATL vs. CHI
21 David Johnson, HOU @ PIT
22 Kareem Hunt, CLE vs. WAS
23 James Robinson, JAX vs. MIA
24 Mark Ingram, BAL vs. KC
25 Joshua Kelley, LAC vs. CAR
26 Darrell Henderson, LAR @ BUF
27 Dion Lewis, NYG vs. SF
28 Antonio Gibson, WAS @ CLE
29 Leonard Fournette, TB @ DEN
30 JK Dobbins, BAL vs. KC
31 Malcolm Brown, LAR @ BUF
32 Sony Michel, NE vs. LV
33 D'Andre Swift, DET @ ARZ
34 Tarik Cohen, CHI @ ATL
35 Myles Gaskin, MIA @ JAX
36 Mike Davis, CAR @ LAC
37 Frank Gore, NYJ @ IND
38 Jeff Wilson Jr., SF @ NYG
39 Ronald Jones II, TB @ DEN
40 Gus Edwards, BAL vs. KC
41 Nyheim Hines, IND vs. NYJ
42 Jordan Howard, MIA @ JAX
43 Rex Burkhead, NE vs. LV
44 Kerryon Johnson, DET @ ARZ
45 Chris Thompson, JAX vs. MIA
46 Adrian Peterson, DET @ ARZ
47 Matt Breida, MIA @ JAX
48 Latavius Murray, NO vs. GB
49 Jamaal Williams, GB @ NO
50 LeSean McCoy, TB @ DEN
51 Boston Scott, PHI vs. CIN
52 Darrynton Evans, TEN @ MIN
53 Wayne Gallman, NYG vs. SF
54 Royce Freeman, DEN vs. TB
55 Carlos Hyde, SEA vs. DAL
56 Alexander Mattison, MIN vs. TEN
57 Chase Edmonds, ARZ vs. DET
58 T.J. Yeldon, BUF vs. LAR
59 Giovani Bernard, CIN @ PHI
60 Benny Snell Jr., PIT vs. HOU
61 Darwin Thompson, KC @ BAL
62 Tony Pollard, DAL @ SEA
63 J.D. McKissic, WAS @ CLE
64 Jalen Richard, LV @ NE
65 Peyton Barber, WAS @ CLE
66 Trenton Cannon, CAR @ LAC
67 Brian Hill, ATL vs. CHI
68 Corey Clement, PHI vs. CIN
69 La'Mical Perine NYJ @ IND
70 Devontae Booker, LV @ NE
71 AJ Dillon, GB @ NO

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.