Fantasy Week 3: Henderson, Judkins Among Recommended Running Back Starts

A Week 3 fantasy guide points to TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Travis Etienne Jr. and Aaron Jones as running backs to start based on early-season usage trends.

A fantasy football guide for Week 3, originally published by Sports Illustrated and carried by Yahoo Sports, highlights four running backs fantasy managers should consider starting: Aaron Jones of the Minnesota Vikings, Travis Etienne Jr. of the New Orleans Saints, Quinshon Judkins of the Cleveland Browns and TreVeyon Henderson of the New England Patriots.

The case for Jones rests on workload. With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Jones played 81% of Minnesota's offensive snaps in Week 2 and took 23 of the team's 25 running back carries, gaining 105 yards at 4.6 per attempt ahead of a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Etienne's recommendation stems from a snap and efficiency split in New Orleans. He played 54% of the offensive snaps in Week 2 compared with 29% for Alvin Kamara, who managed 15 rushing yards on nine carries. The Saints acquired Etienne in the offseason and reduced Kamara's pay to keep him.

Judkins has volume through two games, with 24 carries and seven catches on seven targets, but only 2.3 yards per rush. The guide notes the Carolina Panthers have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this season at 34.3 per game.

Henderson rushed 16 times for 76 yards and a 39-yard touchdown in his first game of the season, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. His role grew after a Rhamondre Stevenson fumble, and the piece cautions that New England's backfield rotation has favored Stevenson in the past.