Fantasy Football Week 3: Jamey Eisenberg's Start/Sit Running Back Advice

Chuba Hubbard is my Start of the Week for Week 3, as his role is clear now that Jonathon Brooks (groin) is on injured reserve. But we have questions about several backfields heading into Week 3, especially concerning injuries.

Saquon Barkley (shoulder), Jadarian Price (shoulder), J.K. Dobbins (hamstring) and Rico Dowdle (toe) all left Week 2. At the time of publication, we're waiting for injury updates on several of these backfields, which will impact how Fantasy managers set their lineups.

If Barkley is out for Week 3 at Chicago, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley would be flex options. Emanuel Wilson would also be a flex option if Price can't play in Week 3 at Washington.

We know Dowdle missed practice Wednesday and was in a walking boot. That doesn't bode well for his Week 3 status against Cincinnati, but it puts Jaylen Warren in line to be a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues.

As for the Broncos, it's a complicated situation since Dobbins could practice this week, but we don't know about RJ Harvey (hamstring), who also missed Week 2 against Jacksonville. And now Jonah Coleman (ankle) is banged up heading into Week 3 against the Rams.

We'll continue to monitor all of these injuries for Week 3. But be prepared to use some backup running backs in your Fantasy leagues this week.

RBs to Start Projections powered by Sportsline

Aaron Jones

RB

MIN Minnesota

• #33

Age: 31 • Experience: 10 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ TB MIN -1.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB

16th

PROJ PTS

12

RB RNK

19th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

145

REC

0

REYDS

0

TD

1

FPTS/G

10.3

In the first game without Jordan Mason (thumb) in Week 2 at Chicago, Jones had 23 carries for 105 yards, and he played 81 percent of the snaps. He didn't have a target, but we'll see what changes with Kyler Murray (concussion) back at quarterback for the Vikings. Tampa Bay's run defense has been tough so far on Chase Brown and Quinshon Judkins, holding that duo to a combined 28 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown and 10 catches for 49 yards on 11 targets. Given his expected usage, I like Jones as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues.

Jaylen Warren

RB

PIT Pittsburgh

• #30

Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs CIN CIN -3.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB

13th

PROJ PTS

11.6

RB RNK

18th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

89

REC

7

REYDS

61

TD

0

FPTS/G

10

Rico Dowdle (toe) missed practice Wednesday and was in a walking boot. Dowdle is likely out for Week 3, which should give Warren a full workload. This isn't an easy matchup since the Bengals have limited Bucky Irving and David Montgomery to a combined 14 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown in two games, but Irving and Woody Marks did damage in the passing game. Irving had seven catches for 48 yards on seven targets in Week 1, and Marks had five catches for 27 yards on six targets in Week 2. Warren averaged 14.3 PPR points in two games against the Bengals last season, and I like him as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues if Dowdle is out.

David Montgomery

RB

HOU Houston

• #32

Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ IND HOU -2.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB

30th

PROJ PTS

11.8

RB RNK

21st

YTD Stats

RUYDS

70

REC

5

REYDS

33

TD

3

FPTS/G

16.7

Montgomery was bad in Week 2 against Cincinnati with six carries for 10 yards and two catches for 14 yards on two targets. He didn't run well in Week 1 against Buffalo with 20 carries for 60 yards, but he scored two touchdowns and added three catches for 19 yards and another touchdown. I'm hopeful his rushing average will improve in Week 3 at Indianapolis, but he should have another quality Fantasy outing against the Colts. Indianapolis is No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker III have combined for 48 carries for 261 yards and three touchdowns and seven catches for 80 yards in two games. Montgomery is worth using as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues.

Cam Skattebo

RB

NYG N.Y. Giants

• #44

Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs TEN NYG -2.5 O/U 39.5

OPP VS RB

20th

PROJ PTS

14.3

RB RNK

20th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

117

REC

4

REYDS

19

TD

1

FPTS/G

11.8

We're not getting the desired workload for Skattebo yet, but I like that he had four catches for 19 yards on four targets in Week 2 at the Rams after no targets in Week 1 against Dallas. The Giants should lean on Skattebo moving forward with Jaxson Dart (knee) out, and Skattebo is worth using as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back against the Titans. Tennessee struggled with Breece Hall in Week 1 when he had 22 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 16 yards on two targets. Saquon Barkley (shoulder) was injured in Week 2 against the Titans, but Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley combined for 16.7 PPR points. Hopefully, Skattebo will follow suit in Week 3. Sleepers (Start/Sit) Projections powered by Sportsline

Tank Bigsby

RB

PHI Philadelphia

• #8

Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ CHI PHI -4.5 O/U 41

OPP VS RB

23rd

PROJ PTS

6.1

RB RNK

32nd

YTD Stats

RUYDS

36

REC

2

REYDS

5

TD

1

FPTS/G

6.1

If Saquon Barkley (shoulder) is out for Week 3 at Chicago then Bigsby and Will Shipley are worth using as flex options against the Bears. Barkley left Week 2 at Tennessee, and Bigby had 13 carries for 33 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 5 yards on two targets, while Shipley had seven carries for 24 yards and two catches for 5 yards on two targets. Chicago is No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and we'll continue to monitor Barkley's status throughout the week. Bigsby would be a flex option in all formats if Barkley is out, and Shipley is worth using in deeper leagues.

TreVeyon Henderson

RB

NE New England

• #32

Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ JAC JAC -3 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB

15th

PROJ PTS

10.1

RB RNK

28th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

76

REC

0

REYDS

0

TD

1

FPTS/G

13.6

I'm curious to see what the Patriots will do with the workload for Rhamondre Stevenson and Henderson in Week 3 at Jacksonville. In Week 2 against Pittsburgh, which was Henderson's first game of the season after he missed Week 1 at Seattle with an ankle injury, he played more snaps than Stevenson (33-20). That was a rare occurrence in 2025, and Stevenson also lost a fumble against the Steelers. Henderson had 16 carries for 76 yards and a 39-yard touchdown run but no targets in Week 2, while Stevenson had six carries for 43 yards and one catch for 3 yards on two targets. This isn't an easy matchup against the Jaguars, but I'll still use Stevenson as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. Henderson is worth using as a flex, and hopefully he continues to play more than Stevenson moving forward.

Rachaad White

RB

WAS Washington

• #1

Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs SEA SEA -7 O/U 40.5

OPP VS RB

7th

PROJ PTS

5.9

RB RNK

31st

YTD Stats

RUYDS

65

REC

8

REYDS

45

TD

0

FPTS/G

9.5

After a disappointing Week 1 with just 4.7 PPR points at Philadelphia, White was exceptional in Week 2 at Dallas with 14.3 PPR points. He had seven carries for 43 yards and six catches for 40 yards on six targets. White will continue to share work with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but White has flex appeal in all leagues against Seattle. It won't be an easy matchup, and we'll see what the Commanders look like with Marcus Mariota starting for the injured Jayden Daniels (elbow). But I expect White to be heavily involved in the passing game, which makes him a flex option in Week 3. RBs to Sit Projections powered by Sportsline

Jeremiyah Love

RB

ARI Arizona

• #4

Age: 21 • Experience: Rookie

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ SF SF -8.5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS RB

19th

PROJ PTS

13.8

RB RNK

27th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

70

REC

5

REYDS

25

TD

1

FPTS/G

10.3

At some point soon, maybe this week, the Cardinals will turn Love loose, and he will look like the superstar running back we saw at Notre Dame. But until that happens, we should only be starting Love as a flex option in the majority of leagues. He continues to play less snaps than Tyler Allgeier (76-52 for the season), and Love has 20 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 25 yards on seven targets in two games against the Chargers and Seahawks. The 49ers defense isn't one to fear -- Kyren Williams and De'Von Achane each scored at least 12.3 PPR points in each game this season -- but Arizona holding back Love is why he's listed in this spot.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB

WAS Washington

• #22

Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs SEA SEA -7 O/U 40.5

OPP VS RB

7th

PROJ PTS

9

RB RNK

33rd

YTD Stats

RUYDS

106

REC

2

REYDS

-2

TD

1

FPTS/G

9.6

Croskey-Merritt had a productive Week 1 at Philadelphia with 16 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown and one catch for minus-7 yards on one target, but he struggled in Week 2 at Dallas with 12 carries for 43 yards and one catch for 5 yards on one target. Rachaad White outplayed Croskey-Merritt in Week 2, and I like White better than Croskey-Merritt in Week 3 against Seattle. The Seahawks run defense is tough, but White should be able to make plays against Seattle in the passing game (Rhamondre Stevenson had five catches for 44 yards on six targets in Week 1). I would only use Croskey-Merritt as a flex option in all formats in Week 3.

Tony Pollard

RB

TEN Tennessee

• #20

Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ NYG NYG -2.5 O/U 39.5

OPP VS RB

25th

PROJ PTS

11.9

RB RNK

30th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

99

REC

2

REYDS

0

TD

0

FPTS/G

6

Pollard has struggled through two games this season with a combined 21 carries for 99 yards and no touchdowns and two catches for no yards on three targets. The Giants run defense isn't great, and Javonte Williams, Kryen Williams and Blake Corum each scored at least 10.2 PPR points in two games against New York. But Pollard continues to share work with Tyjae Spears, and it's hard to trust Pollard as anything more than flex option in most leagues in Week 3.

MarShawn Lloyd

RB

GB Green Bay

• #32

Age: 25 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs ATL GB -5 O/U 43

OPP VS RB

6th

PROJ PTS

8.8

RB RNK

35th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

57

REC

2

REYDS

6

TD

1

FPTS/G

6.2

I'm not worried about the Atlanta defense as much as the Green Bay offense in this game. Right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) is out for the season, and left guard Aaron Banks (knee) and right guard Jacob Monk (shoulder) are also banged up. The Packers also seem content using Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Christopher Brooks in a committee, and Lloyd has struggled in two games against Minnesota and the Jets with a combined 19 carries for 57 yards and two catches for 6 yards and a touchdown on three targets. Jordan Love and the passing game should have success against the Falcons through the air, and Lloyd will likely only help Fantasy managers with a touchdown. He's a flex option at best in most leagues for Week 3. Bust Alert (Start/Sit) Projections powered by Sportsline

Bhayshul Tuten

RB

JAC Jacksonville

•

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/fantasy-football-start-sit-week-3-running-backs-rb-jamey-eisenberg/)._