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Alex breaks down the top ten running backs from Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season and what those numbers mean for fantasy football going forward. Who was the biggest surprise this week?
Another week of NFL football, another week of surprises. Week 3 brought us some more intriguing information and a glimmer of hope for a few of the worst offenses in the league through two weeks. Andy Dalton looked like a vintage Red Rifle as he fired the ball all around the yard in Carolina's first win of the season. Malik Nabers has also seemingly breathed life into the New York Giants offense -- converting two absurd catches on Sunday, including two touchdowns.
Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers offense showed significant improvement in their 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Bo Nix also made a mark on Sunday, leading the Denver Broncos to a stunning 26-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings also continued their winning streak, defeating a strong Houston Texans team 34-7. But let's not forget the RBs, who also had their moments.
Through three weeks of the season, we're beginning to see a pattern of players and offenses consistently appearing on this list. Week 3 has two Monday Night Football matchups, and, of note -- Travis Etienne and James Cook don't qualify here this week. Still, there was plenty of running-back love to go around Sunday. Without further ado, let's dive in.
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Top 10 Running Backs of the Week
Here are the top 10 running backs from Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season in PPR scoring:
| Rank | Player | Team | Points |
| 1 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | 29.6 |
| 2 | Kyren Williams | LAR | 29.6 |
| 3 | Derrick Henry | BAL | 29.4 |
| 4 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | 25.5 |
| 5 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | 22.9 |
| 6 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | 22.7 |
| 7 | Aaron Jones | MIN | 20.8 |
| 8 | David Montgomery | DET | 18.2 |
| 9 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 16.3 |
| 10 | Devin Singletary | NYG | 14.8 |
1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley had another monster performance on the ground in this one as he helped Philly hand the New Orleans Saints their first loss of the season. The long-time Giant toted the rock 17 times, running wild for 147 yards and two scores. His highlight was a 65-yard scamper, which he turned into six points as he patiently let his blocks set up and followed them -- untouched -- into the end zone.
SAQUON. BARKLEY.
📺: #PHIvsNO on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/BLCa6Luamn— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
The 27-year-old caught all four of his targets for an additional nine yards in the 15-12 victory. His work in the passing game isn't as extensive as in New York, but he's been the engine for Philadelphia's offense, and he looks right at home in his new digs.
He and the Eagles will square off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 who just got shredded on the ground by Bo Nix and Tyler Badie. Barkley is a weekly elite RB1 play.
2. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams finally got in the win column this weekend on the back of their workhorse. Kyren Williams was a one-man show in Week 3, scoring all three of LA's TDs. Williams took 24 carries, turning them into 89 yards and two scores.
He also caught both of his targets, adding 27 yards and an additional (somersaulting) touchdown. It was a nice win for the Rams, knocking off their division-rival San Francisco 49ers 27-24 despite a litany of injuries on both sides of the ball.
KYREN WILLIAMS WITH THE ACROBATICS FOR THE TD pic.twitter.com/qkoR8LFodR
— Rams Tapes 🥶 (@RamsTapes) September 22, 2024
The third-year veteran took all but two RB touches for LA this Sunday and has handily out-snapped Ronnie Rivers and Blake Corum 164-to-24 over three weeks of play. Expect head coach Sean McVay to lean on him again if Cooper Kupp is unable to suit up in Week 4. They'll take on the Bears in Chicago, and Williams will be an RB1 for that contest.
3. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore also picked up their first win of the season this week when they defeated the Cowboys 28-25 in Dallas -- two of the more surprising 1-2 teams thus far. The 30-year-old bruiser turned out a vintage King Henry performance Sunday, handling 25 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns, with an additional 23 yards through the air on one target.
The former Titan has four TDs in three games as a Raven, and he played just under 60% of the snaps in this one -- his largest snap share of the season.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was efficient in the win, completing 12-of-15 passes for 182 yards and a score, so this type of game script may be predictive moving forward. Henry is a strong weekly play on a Ravens squad that runs the ball the sixth-most in the NFL (52.79%).
Derrick Henry totaled 25 carries for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns, including +45 rushing yards over expected in the Ravens win over the Cowboys.
Henry forced 12 total missed tackles, the 2nd-most by any player in a game this season.#BALvsDAL | @Ravens pic.twitter.com/N7UfPlmk7E
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 23, 2024
4. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor ripped off chunks of yardage en route to 135 total yards and two scores on 24 total touches this weekend. 23 of those came on the ground as he churned out 110 yards in the Colts 21-16 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Wisconsin product ripped off a 29-yard rush in the second quarter for his highlight, weaving through the Bears D untouched for a score -- the first of the game.
Here comes Jonathan Taylor. 🚂
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/yULiO4juD6
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 22, 2024
It'd be nice to see the 25-year-old get some work through the air -- he has just three receptions on the season -- but he's averaging 19 yards per catch and now has back-to-back 100-yard games on the ground.
He's a solid weekly play, though some variance is likely due to a rushing quarterback (Anthony Richardson) at the helm. Taylor has a tough task in Week 4 when Indy hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium.
5. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
In perhaps the biggest surprise of Week 3, the Andy Dalton-led Carolina Panthers sandbagged the Las Vegas Raiders -- picking up their first win since Week 15 of last season. The Panthers had looked inept over two weeks, but the switch from second-year QB Bryce Young to the 36-year-old Dalton was a massive boost for the team.
Hubbard was solid on the day and showed off excellent burst, totaling 169 yards and a touchdown across 26 touches. His lone score came through the air, a swing pass from the Red Rifle inside the Raiders' 10-yard line. The fourth-year RB had a solid day as a part of Carolina's passing attack, too -- racking up 55 yards and five receptions on five targets.
The highest-graded Panthers in Week 3 vs the Raiders:
🥇 Chuba Hubbard - 90.6
🥈 A'Shawn Robinson - 82.5
🥉 Troy Hill - 79.4
🏅 Andy Dalton - 78.8
🏅 Diontae Johnson - 77.1 pic.twitter.com/fCE02I3vqA— PFF CAR Panthers (@PFF_Panthers) September 23, 2024
The entire Panthers offense is rising with the long-time Bengal under center, and Hubbard looks like he could return RB2 value as long as that's the case.
His path to that end will become less apparent when rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (ACL) makes his NFL debut -- who is scheduled to do so after Week 4. Still, Hubbard looked excellent in Week 3, and Brooks' ACL injury could linger longer than his stay on the PUP.
Carolina will take on the Bengals at home this coming Sunday.
6. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Charbonnet again finds himself in this column in the stead of third-year RB Kenneth Walker III. He again saw the vast majority of touches out of Seattle's backfield, propelling them to a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins. The 22-year-old carried the rock 18 times for 91 yards, scoring two of the Seahawks' three touchdowns. He also caught 3-of-4 targets for an additional 16 yards in the passing game.
With Walker trending toward a return, Charbonnet's days as the only show in town are numbered. However, the former has missed at least two games in each of his three seasons, and this could evolve into more of a timeshare if the latter continues his solid performance.
Seattle will look to go 4-0 when they visit the Detroit Lions next week on Monday Night Football. If Walker is out again, fire up Charbs as a mid-to-low-end RB2 with RB1 upside.
Charbonnet for 6️⃣! pic.twitter.com/IjVjG4hWjE
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 22, 2024
7. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are now 3-0 with their victory over the Houston Texans, and Aaron Jones was a large part of that. The 29-year-old handled 19 carries for Minnesota, churning out 102 yards against a tough Texans D.
He also continued to work extensively in the passing game, hauling in 5-of-6 targets for 46 yards, including an eight-yard TD. Jones was split wide right on the play and came underneath on a drag route as QB Sam Darnold hit him in stride.
.@Showtyme_33 leaps in for the #Vikings 2nd TD of the afternoon.
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/CTCPAStHjj
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 22, 2024
The former Packer was out-gained on the ground last week by running mate Ty Chandler, but Jones was back to his efficient self in the Week 3 victory. He has an evident stranglehold on the starting job in this backfield, out-snapping Chandler 101-to-60 and out-touching him 54-to-28 over three weeks. The former fifth-round pick will be a high-end RB2 next Sunday when he takes on his former team at Lambeau Field.
8. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
The Lions improved to 2-1 with a 20-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday, and their two-headed backfield monster had much to do with it. David Montgomery saw 23 carries in the victory, totaling 105 yards and a score on the ground. He also reeled in all three of his targets for 17 yards. His lone score was a one-yard plunge on the goal line.
Through three weeks, Jahmyr Gibbs leads this backfield in snaps, but Montgomery has led the tandem in touches (59-to-51) and touchdowns (3-to-1). Both backs are integral parts of Detroit's offense, and the duo holds high-end RB2 value moving forward with baked-in upside if either one were forced to miss time. The Lions will host the 3-0 Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football in Week 4.
David Montgomery going O-Line surfin'#DETvsAZ | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/cuyXM0C8s5
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2024
9. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Both Detroit RBs were top-ten plays this weekend, and they'll continue to be a threat to do so moving forward. Gibbs handled fewer touches than his backfield mate David Montgomery but still worked efficiently and scored a touchdown.
The Alabama product toted the rock 16 times for 83 yards (5.2 YPC) and racked up 20 yards and a score through the air on no catches and no targets -- one of the stranger stat lines you'll see.
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is just the second player in the Super Bowl era to score a receiving touchdown without recording a reception, joining Vikings RB Allen Rice, who did so in Week 12, 1984 against the Broncos, per NFL Researchhttps://t.co/EaULLONyyH pic.twitter.com/U8sbAa29S2
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 23, 2024
Gibbs leaked out of the backfield in the waning seconds of the first half and was the recipient of a lateral on a throwback hook-and-ladder play. It was executed perfectly as wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown took a quick slant and immediately pitched it back to Gibbs, who went untouched the rest of the way. Continue to confidently start both Lions' running backs, as they are critical pieces in the team's attack.
10. Devin Singletary, New York Giants
Devin Singletary rounds out the top-ten this week as he played a crucial role in the New York Giants' first victory of the season -- a 21-15 win over the Cleveland Browns. Singletary was actually pretty inefficient on the ground in this one, totaling 22 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries until just before the final two-minute warning.
With New York attempting to ice the game, the 27-year-old broke free for a gain of 43 yards up the sideline, sliding down at the 1-yard line to prevent Cleveland from regaining possession of the ball. Fantasy managers probably would have appreciated the extra six points he would have scored, but it was a savvy play by the veteran to secure the win.
Devin Singletary understood the assignment. That should ice the game for the @Giants!
📺: #NYGvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ncONHFHxt1— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
The former Bill also caught all four of his targets on the day, adding 43 yards with a long gain of 23. It won't be easy to trust him on a weekly basis, but this outing marked back-to-back weeks with a TD for the veteran RB, and he has yet to take less than 68% of the team's snaps. He'll be an RB3 in Week 4 when New York hosts the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup of 1-2 teams.
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