Bills RB James Cook III led the way at RB in Week 3, rushing for 135 yards and 1 TD. It was also a standout week for Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III, who had 178 total yards in a 33-30 overtime win over the Colts.
It wasn’t all positive at the position, though, with Eagles RB Saquon Barkley suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to leave Philadelphia’s 24-20 win over the Titans.
As we turn our attention towards Week 3, some RBs are primed to exploit favorable matchups. Others might struggle against a tough opponent.
Below, let's list some NFL Week 3 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em candidates for the RB position, including picks to consider on PrizePicks for TreVeyon Henderson, Chuba Hubbard, and more. Keep this analysis in mind when making your Week 3 fantasy football decisions.
Make your NFL Week 3 predictions and picks on PrizePicks now.
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Start: Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson
Game: Patriots vs. Jaguars – Sunday, September 27, 1 p.m. ET
Projections via PrizePicks: 39.5 Rush Yards, 9.5 Rush Attempts, 8.5 Rec Yards
TreVeyon Henderson missed the Patriots’ Week 1 13-10 loss to the Seahawks because of an ankle injury. Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson didn’t exactly shine in his absence, turning 18 carries into only 51 yards. However, he did add 5 receptions for 44 yards.
Henderson was cleared to return Sunday and made his presence felt in the Patriots’ 20-3 victory over the Steelers. He finished with 16 rush attempts for 76 yards and 1 TD. Meanwhile, Stevenson only had 6 carries. He also lost a fumble in the matchup while playing just 20 offensive snaps. Henderson logged 33.
Stevenson is an important veteran who was productive last season, but Henderson is more explosive and is the club's future at the position. Per PFF, he ranked eighth among RBs in yards after contact per attempt (3.46) during his rookie campaign.
Week 3 is expected to be a more competitive matchup against the Jaguars, who are coming off a 20-13 loss to the Broncos in Denver. PrizePicks has the Jaguars as a 2.5-point favorite. Jacksonville’s run defense hasn’t been tested much, allowing just 34 total carries to RBs through two games, tied for the third fewest.
However, their 11 receptions allowed to the position is tied for the fifth most. Henderson had 42 targets last year; he could make an impact both on the ground and through the air in this matchup.
Add TreVeyon Henderson + Patriots to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now.
Start: Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard
Game: Panthers vs. Browns – Sunday, September 27, 1 p.m. ET
Projections via PrizePicks: 62.5 Rush Yards, 15.5 Rush Attempts, 16.5 Rec Yards
After recovering from tearing his ACL twice, Panthers RB Jonathan Brooks made his return and played in Week 1. However, he's now sidelined again after suffering a core muscle injury in the Panthers’ 34-3 dismantling of the Falcons on Sunday. He's expected to miss at least six weeks.
Even before Brooks was injured, he was outperformed by Chuba Hubbard. In Week 1’s 59-37 loss to the Bears, Hubbard had 87 total yards and 2 TDs. He followed that up with 64 total yards and 1 TD against the Falcons.
He's been targeted five times across two games and has shown that he can have an impact in the passing game before. During his breakout in 2024, he logged 54 targets and came away with 43 receptions.
Now that Brooks is out, Hubbard’s main competition for carries is RB AJ Dillon, who has 8 carries for 25 yards through two weeks. Hubbard should receive a significant workload for his Week 3 battle with the Browns, who are 20th in rush EPA allowed through two games, according to RBSDM.
Cleveland has allowed 5.0 yards per carry to RBs, the sixth-highest total in the sport. This is an opportunity for Hubbard to shine for fantasy managers.
Add Chuba Hubbard + Panthers to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.
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Sit: Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Game: Seahawks vs. Commanders – Sunday, September 27, 1 p.m. ET
Projections via PrizePicks: 40.5 Rush Yards, 9.5 Rush Attempts (Goblin), 19.5 Rec Yards (Demon)
The Commanders suffered yet another crushing blow when QB Jayden Daniels left their 37-20 loss to the Cowboys with a dislocated elbow. He dislocated the same elbow last season, which contributed to him only appearing in seven games.
With Daniels expected to miss time, Marcus Mariota is in line to take over.
The Commanders might love to rely on their run game until Daniels returns, but doing that against the Seahawks won’t be easy. Seattle is fifth in rush EPA allowed and last year, it finished first.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry through two games and doesn’t make much of an impact through the air, catching 9 passes all of last season. It’s difficult to see much upside for him considering this matchup.
Add Jacory Croskey-Merritt + Commanders to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now.
Sit: Steelers RB Jaylen Warren
Game: Bengals vs. Steelers – Sunday, September 27, 1 p.m. ET
Projections via PrizePicks: 50.5 Rush Yards, 13.5 Rush Attempts, 22.5 Rec Yards
Steelers RB Rico Dowdle suffered a toe injury against the Patriots, finishing the game with only 7 rush attempts for 22 yards. He isn’t having a productive start, combing for 37 rushing yards on 15 carries. Jaylen Warren hasn’t exactly been racking up yards in bunches, either, posting 89 yards over 21 carries.
Dowdle is considered day-to-day with his injury. If he's sidelined for Week 3, Warren would be primed for an increased workload against the Bengals. That would've been great news considering how bad the Bengals’ defense was last year, but it's made significant upgrades.
With DT Dexter Lawrence leading the way, Cincy has held RBs to 2.9 YPC while also sitting sixth in rush EPA/play surrendered. It’s difficult to be excited about starting Warren in fantasy for this matchup, even in a flex position.
Add Jaylen Warren + Steelers to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.
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Henderson made an immediate impact during his return from injury and comes with upside in fantasy again for Week 3, and Hubbard stands out as a viable starting option with Brooks now sidelined. Players like Croskey-Merritt and Warren, however, face difficult defenses and could struggle this weekend.
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