Achane, Jacobs among 5 must-start Week 3 fantasy football running backs

MIAMI, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- De'Von Achane and Josh Jacobs are among my five must-start fantasy football running backs for Week 3.

Achane also leads my Top 30 weekly fantasy football running back rankings. Alvin Kamara, Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley are my other Top 5 options.

Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jacobs, Jordan Mason and James Conner should also be considered Top 10 plays for Week 3.

Kamara, Henry and Mason join Achane and Jacobs as my must-start plays. My rankings were compiled based on several factors, including likely workload, strength of opponent, previous matchup history, expected red zone opportunities and predicted game script.

Those who roster Isiah Pacheco and Christian McCaffrey should move them to your bench, as they remain ruled out for Week 3. Joe Mixon, Kenneth Walker, Rachaad White and Raheem Mostert stock owners should continue to monitor their injury status leading into their respective kickoffs.

Breece Hall and Rhamondre Stevenson, who played Thursday, were removed from my rankings.

My Week 3 rankings of quarterbacks, tight ends and wide receivers also are available. My top free agent targets for Week 3 are available here. All positional rankings will be updated throughout the week. Players will be removed from or adjusted within the rankings based on injuries.

De'Von Achane

Achane shook off an ankle injury and provided a Top 3 fantasy football performance in Week 2, with 165 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills.

The second-year running back, who is averaging 23 touches per game, is on track for another hefty workload this week against the Seattle Seahawks. Look for Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel to try to get the ball into Achane's hands as quickly -- and creatively -- as possible, especially because of the expected injury absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

I expect the Seahawks to focus most of their attention on the Dolphins' rushing attack, but their defense did just allow 89 total yards and a score to New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 2.

Look for the Dolphins speedster to eclipse 100 yards from scrimmage and to find the end zone. He is an elite RB1 for the rest of the season.

Alvin Kamara

Kamara was the top running back in Week 2, when he bolted for 180 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys.

This week, the New Orleans Saints will host the Philadelphia Eagles, who just allowed 122 yards from scrimmage to Bijan Robinson in Week 2 and 104 yards from scrimmage to Josh Jacobs in Week 1.

Kamara, who leads the NFL with 290 yards from scrimmage, is a near lock for at least 100 more this week. He also should find the end zone at least once and has a chance to be the top fantasy football play for the second week in a row.

Derrick Henry

Henry scored a touchdown in each of his first two games this season. He also totaled 96 yards from scrimmage on 19 touches in Week 2. Look for the 0-2 Baltimore Ravens to continue to feed the veteran in Week 3 when they host a Cowboys team that was just gutted by Kamara.

The Cowboys, who also allowed 69 yards from scrimmage to Jerome Ford in Week 1, will likely struggle to shutdown the Ravens rushing attack. I expect Henry to get at least 20 touches, which he could turn in to more than 80 rushing yards and a touchdown.

He is my No. 6 play for Week 3.

Josh Jacobs

Through two weeks, Jacobs ranks third in the NFL with 235 rushing yards. The veteran running back dominated in Week 2, with 151 yards on 32 carries in a Green Bay Packers win over the Indianapolis Colts.

This week, the Packers will face a Tennessee Titans defense that just allowed 114 yards from scrimmage and a score to Breece Hall in Week 2.

Look for the Packers to continue to feed Jacobs during quarterback Jordan Love's injury hiatus. He should get at least 20 touches again in Week 3 and could turn those opportunities into at least 100 yards from scrimmage. He is my No. 8 option based on expected workload and production.

Jordan Mason

Mason, who ranks second in rushing and fourth in yards from scrimmage, continues to fill in nicely for injured San Francisco 49ers starting running back Christian McCaffrey.

He went off for 100 rushing yards and a score in Week 2 after a 147-yard, one-touchdown performance in Week 1. This week, the 49ers will face a Los Angeles Rams defense that just surrendered 122 yards and a score to James Conner in Week 2. The Rams also allowed 93 yards and a score from David Montgomery and 74 yards and a score from Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 1.

I expect Mason to continue his successful run as a fill-in for McCaffrey in this matchup, with at least 100 yards from scrimmage for the third-consecutive game.

He is a low-end RB1.

Week 3 fantasy football running back rankings

1. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins at SEA

2. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. PHI

3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons vs. KC

4. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts vs. CHI

5. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles at NO

6. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens at DAL

7. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions at ARI

8. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers at TEN

9. Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers at LAR

10. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals vs. DET

11. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks vs. MIA

12. James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. JAX

13. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans vs. GB

14. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams vs. SF

15. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings vs. HOU

16. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars at BUF

17. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. DEN

18. J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers at PIT

19. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders at CIN

20. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions at ARI

21. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. LAC

22. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears at IND

23. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos at TB

24. Cam Akers, Houston Texans at MIN

25. Devin Singletary, New York Giants at CLE

26. Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals vs. WAS

27. Carson Steele, Kansas City Chiefs at ATL

28. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns vs. NYG

29. Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders vs. CAR

30. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers at LV