Looking for Week 3 RB start/sit picks? Here are the running backs to start and sit for your fantasy football lineup. There have already been a couple notable injuries at this position along with a mix of positive and negative production surprises from veterans and young players. This sets the stage for tough lineup decisions for every fantasy manager. Let’s break down my Week 3 fantasy football RB start/sit picks below.
Fantasy Football Week 3 RB Start/Sit: Running Back Picks
- Running backs to start: TreVeyon Henderson, Aaron Jones
- Running backs to sit: Jaylen Warren, Bhayshul Tuten
Week 3 RB Start: TreVeyon Henderson at Jaguars
Heading into the season, it seemed like everyone was on the same page about New England’s backfield committee. Rhamondre Stevenson was the trusted, reliable back with elite pass protection abilities that should keep him on the field 65-70% of the time, while TreVeyon Henderson was the dynamic, game-breaking change-of-pace option.
That analysis assumed that Stevenson’s historic fumbling issues wouldn’t rear its ugly head again. That assumption was wrong. After his first catch of the day, the veteran lost the football, and it was the Henderson show the rest of the way. The second-year back played 33 offensive snaps to Stevenson’s 20, out-carrying him 16 to 6 and outproducing him as well. Henderson also scored the only touchdown of the game. Suddenly, the script may have flipped. I would still expect Stevenson to get a solid workload against Jacksonville, but Henderson is now favored to lead the way. If the talented back sees at least 12-14 touches in this game, he can turn that into strong RB2 production.
Week 3 RB Sit: Jaylen Warren vs. Bengals
While TreVeyon Henderson emerged favorably from the Week 2 Patriots-Steelers matchup, the same cannot be said for the backs on the other side of the field. Rico Dowdle is battling a toe injury that forced him to exit the prior contest, which on paper should be a good thing for his backfield counterpart, Jaylen Warren.
That only applies if you’re able to move the ball and you face a favorable matchup. Neither of those things appear to be the case heading into Week 3. The Steelers struggled to get anything going against a stingy Patriots defense, scoring just three points, and that should remain the case against a revamped Bengals squad. Cincinnati has allowed just 74.5 rushing yards per game so far, third-fewest in the NFL. Their run defense, led by Dexter Lawrence, is wreaking havoc on opposing offensive lines. Even with an expanded workload, it’s projecting to be a touchdown-or-bust outing for Warren in Week 3.
Find all of my Week 3 start/sit picks for each position here!
Week 3 RB Start: Aaron Jones at Buccaneers
At 31 years old, many people doubted Aaron Jones’ ability to handle a bell cow’s workload. The veteran proved them wrong last Sunday.
Jones saw 23 carries against the Bears, turning them into 105 yards. That production proved to be the largest difference-maker between the two sides, as no touchdowns were scored and the Vikings won 9-3. With Jordan Mason still on IR, Jones will have to maintain his workhorse role as the Vikings aim to remain undefeated. The Buccaneers have looked solid against the run through two games, but you can still fire Jones up as a workload-dependent RB2/FLEX with upside.
Week 3 RB Sit: Bhayshul Tuten vs. Patriots
Bhayshul Tuten is clearly the top RB in Jacksonville’s backfield, but the presence of Chris Rodriguez Jr. is persistent enough to cause headaches. Tuten is coming off a solid outing against Denver, in which he racked up 13 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown and finished with 14.2 PPR points.
The problem is, Jacksonville hosts a stingy Patriots run defense this week. New England has kept Jadarian Price, Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren in check on the ground through two weeks, and that appears likely to remain the case this Sunday. Tuten will see enough of a workload to produce, but he’s going to either need to score or rack up the catches to churn out a solid fantasy outing. A dud feels more likely than a breakout in this case.
Those are my Week 3 RB start/sit fantasy picks. Stay tuned for more start ’em, sit ’em content over the rest of the week!
