Welcome to the 2026 NFL DFS Week 3 RB Coach article! After a disappointing Week 2 with Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker being the two top previous NFL DFS RB picks who performed up to expectations, it’s time for a reset! With many NFL DFS RBs managing nagging injuries and multiple fantasy football backfields in flux ahead of Week 3, making NFL DFS Week 3 RB picks will be a challenge, but worthwhile decisions rarely come easy. 

NFL DFS Week 3 RB Coach for FanDuel and DraftKings Fantasy

As we take a closer look at the NFL DFS RB Week 3 Rankings on both FanDuel (FD) and DraftKings (DK), we find that Rams RB Kyren Williams has the 17th-highest DFS salary at $6,100. He’s the seventh most expensive NFL DFS RB on the FD platform at $8,200. 

 

 

 

NFL Week 3 Running Backs

With several backfields in flux or facing bad matchups and injury concerns to several NFL DFS RBs, including the usually reliable Saquon Barkley and just about every Broncos RB, this might be the week where you might decide to pay up for a chalky bell-cow option. We try to avoid simply recommending the obvious NFL DFS RB picks in this article and instead try to provide recommendations that will help differentiate your DFS lineups from the rest of the field. However,  this week you’ll notice familiar, expensive, but matchup-proof names in the top-tier section of this article.

Make sure to keep on top of all the latest NFL injury news as it happens by reading Fantasy Alarm’s NFL Injury Report.

 

NFL DFS RB Top Tier Picks for Week 3

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

DraftKings: $8,800 | FanDuel: $9,200 

There’s a reason that Gibbs is perpetually at the top of the NFL DFS RB rankings. He hasn’t missed a game since the 2023 season, and he averaged 21.5 PPR fantasy points per game (FPPG) in 2024 and 21.7 PPR FPPG in 2025. In two games this season, Gibbs is averaging 29.5 PPR FPPG. He’s taking on the Jets in Week 3, not that it matters.

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers

DraftKings: $8,300 | FanDuel: $8,900 

McCaffrey has just 10 rush attempts in each of his first two games, and his overall 53.8% offensive snaps played is just under 30% lower than his 2025 rate. However, with nine catches and 12 targets, he is still heavily involved in the 49ers’ passing game. His passing game prowess helps him create a high floor in PPR scoring systems like those used in the DK and FD platforms.  McCaffrey takes on the Cardinals in Week 3, and they have only given up two receptions to NFL DFS RBs this season, but McCaffrey is matchup-proof and caught 15 passes in two games against the Cardinals in 2025.

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Mid-Tier Picks for NFL Week 3

Derrick Henry, Ravens

DraftKings: $7,700 | FanDuel: $9,000 

Henry’s DK and FD salaries continue to rise, but he continues to offer DFS players a good return on their investment. With Henry getting more involved in the Ravens’ passing game ( 3 catches for 19 yards in Week 2), he’s an even more useful NFL DFS Week 3 RB pick. He takes on the Cowboys in Week 3, and they’ve given up the ninth-most PPR FPPG to NFL DFS RBs. Henry continues to be close to the top of the NFL DFS RB Rankings for Week 3.

Kenneth Walker, Chiefs

DraftKings: $7,400 | FanDuel: $8,300 

Walker III has an extremely favorable matchup against a Dolphins run defense that is giving up the most PPR FPPG to NFL DFS RBs so far this season. He continues to be one of the focal points of the Chiefs’ offense and is averaging the most FPPG on both the DK (32) and FD (29.7) platforms this season. The Chiefs have been running the ball a lot more this season (46.21% compared to 40.53% last season), and if they jump out to a big lead as they’re expected to, look for them to run the ball even more in the second half in Week 3. This could be a week where both Walker III and his RB handcuff, Emmett Johnson ($4,400 DK, $5,400 FD), have value as NFL DFS Week 3 RB picks.

 

NFL Week 3 DFS RB Value Picks 

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

DraftKings: $6,100 | FanDuel: $6,700 

With Jonathon Brooks heading to the IR, Hubbard has the whole Panthers backfield to himself. Hubbard, who is averaging 19.1 DK FPPG and 17.79 FD FPPG, has a good matchup against the Browns, who are giving up 5 YPC to NFL DFS RBs so far this season. Hubbard has already scored three TDs from scrimmage this season and has a good chance of adding to that total in Week 3.

Kyren Williams, Rams

DraftKings: $6,100 | FanDuel: $8,200 

As we alluded to earlier in the article, Williams is a bargain on the DK platform. He is the Rams’ lead NFL DFS RB despite Blake Corum having a consistent role in their offense.  He’s a bit expensive on the FD platform, but in a week with so many NFL DFS backfields in flux due to injury concerns, knowing that Williams will almost certainly get double-digit carries in Week 3 makes him an NFL DFS RB worth paying up for. Williams takes on the Broncos in Week 3, and surprisingly, they’ve given up 5.4 YPC to NFL DFS RBs and the third most FPPG to the position so far this season. 

Jaylen Warren, Steelers

DraftKings: $5,700 | FanDuel: $6,300

Rico Dowdle is nursing a toe injury and was seen in a walking boot on Wednesday. He’s missed practice time, and even if he is active in Week 3, he’ll likely be limited. Warren has a good chance of getting the bulk of the work out of the Steelers' backfield this week, and while the Bengals have only yielded 78 rushing yards to NFL DFS RBs this season, they have given up 15 catches to this position, and that’s the most in the NFL. Warren had success against the Bengals in 2025. In two games against them, Warren rushed for 189 yards (7.27 YPC) and caught six passes. 

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Fades for Week 3

Travis Etienne, Saints

DraftKings: $5,800 | FanDuel: $6,800 

Etienne Jr. seems fairly priced in both DK and FD, but based on his Week 2 production and the way the Saints split the workload among their NFL DFS RBs in Alvin Kamara’s season debut, it’s hard to trust that Etienne Jr. will be able to provide a good return on investment in Week 3. Kamara had one more carry than Etienne Jr. last week, and his six targets and five catches dwarfed Etienne Jr.’s two targets and catches in Week 3.

 

NFL Week 3 RB Play of the Week

Chase Brown, Bengals

DraftKings: $6,600 | FanDuel: $7,500 

Brown is that rare breed of NFL DFS RB who is both a bell cow back and has affordable DFS salaries on the DK and FD platforms. He’s averaging 15 DK FPPG and 13 FD FPPG over the first two weeks of the season and is a top NFL DFS RB Week 3 pick who has a favorable matchup against a Steelers run defense. The Steelers have given up an average of 27.5 PPR FPPG to the position thus far this season. Brown, who is an all-purpose, every-down NFL DFS RB, loves playing against the Steelers. In five career games against them, Brown is averaging 6.51 YPC, and he has also secured 13 receptions.