2025 Fantasy Football Week 3 Trade Value Chart: Running Backs

Fantasy Football Championships are won with trades.

Here, I continue a series previously captained by RSJ’s MOH in 2023 and 2024, and Jackson Barrett before him. In my version, I’ll be basing these trade value charts off the top-150 Rest Of Season Rankings of RSJ’s Wolf Of Roto Street, who finished 2nd of 172 experts in FantasyPros’ Multi-Year Draft Rankings.

These charts adjust values for positional need to assign values based on a 1QB, 12-team, full PPR league, where generally quarterbacks are harder to trade for/away due to lack of positional need, unlike Superflex leagues.

Each week throughout the season, these values will be altered to reflect the player’s value for the rest of the season.

Be sure to tune back each week throughout the season. We’ll be adjusting the chart, discussing risers & fallers, and pinpointing other backs of interest, and providing a refresher on optimal trade strategy.

The trade value chart for each position is linked below.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Trade Value Chart: Running Backs

Running Back Riser

Y’all already know. It’s going to be fun to watch Jacory Croskey-Merritt going forward. Unfortunate that it had to come by way of an Achilles tear for Austin Ekeler, likely ending his career. Up until that point, Ekeler was still the undisputed RB1, out-snapping Bill in Week 2, 52-to-22 in snap percentage, 12-to-5 in total opportunities.

The only concern JCM managers should have is if the Commanders decide to make this an ugly committee now. Hopefully not, as Bill has already put his short-area quickness and long speed on display, even in a limited sample size.

Running Back Faller

TreVeyon Henderson continues to slip due to his low usage, having seen only 32 and 35 percent snap share the first two weeks of the season, respectively, contributing to him only being the RB32 in half-PPR so far.

But I’ll be surprised if anyone calls him a buy-low, because does anybody doubt that the Patriots will up his playing time as the season goes along?

We all joked “they put him RB3 on the depth chart LOLLLLL” and even though it pains Henderson managers to sit through this right now, it looks there’s nothing to do but continue to sit.

Other Running Backs Of Interest

The other Ohio State alum, Quinshon Judkins, looked the part of RB1 for the Browns in week 2, gaining 61 yards on only ten carries and another three catches on three targets for ten yards, all on just a 29-percent snap share.

He’s clearly the quickest and fastest back Cleveland’s got, and another one I wouldn’t call a buy low because everyone who’s got him is likely holding him, and wondering just how high he’ll jump in the rankings once he takes over lead duties.

Trade Strategy Reminders

Aim To Fill Holes On Your Roster, And Your Trade Partner’s

In general, trade offers that clearly help both teams’ overall value, not just your own, will make a trade partner more cooperative, but being mindful of depth concerns with all teams involved with a trade will only increase the chance of that cooperation.

Be mindful not just of weak positional depth, but a surplus of positional depth, with all your league’s rosters. You might have a shortlist of players you’d love to be able to trade for, but if what you have to offer isn’t what your trade partner needs, your offers will likely fall on deaf ears.

Say you’re weak at RB, and have a surplus at WR. Teams that are strong at RB, but weak at WR, are naturally more eager to haggle.

Never Mention The Words “But The Trade Calculator Says”

Charts and calculators are a reference that can help find ideal trades, but they’re not gospel, and trying to make your potential trade partner think otherwise could shut the door on negotiations real quick.

Even if your charts/calculators show the trade offer to be in your league mate’s favor, they probably have tools and references of their own, and the next time “But the trade calculator says” changes someone’s mind, may be the first time.

Be Careful How Low-Ball Your Offers Are

Speaking of bad faith, a trade offer that is too clearly in your favor puts you in danger of potential trade partners shutting you out not just for that particular trade negotiation, but any future ones as well.

It’s a great feeling to get those kind of lopsided trade deals, but the ones that are so bad they only go through 1-percent of the time likely aren’t worth hitting the send button to begin with. At their core, fantasy players aren’t complete masochists just want to have fun with it, and somebody sending them insulting offers isn’t fun.

Trade Value Chart: Running Backs

QB | RB | WR | TE

Tier 1: The Elites

Tier 2: RB1 Options

Tier 3: RB2 Options

Tier 4: The Rest