We will have you covered throughout the fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential fantasy football waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out some of our top fantasy football waiver wire running backs to target for the week below. And here is all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 4.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Running Back
Running Backs
Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson
Trey Benson (RB – ARI): 50% Rostered
- Next Opponents: SEA, TEN, @IND
- True Value: $56
- Desperate Need: $75
- Budget-Minded: $40
Analysis: In back-to-back weeks, a feel-good fantasy veteran has gone down with a season-ending injury. In Week 2, it was Austin Ekeler tearing his Achilles. In Week 3, it was James Conner sustaining an ankle injury that will end his season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. As a result, Conner’s backup, Trey Benson, is the first must-grab running back of the season. Typically, this article only includes players who are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues. Benson is currently 50% rostered, but we felt compelled to include him since he’ll be so coveted in leagues where he’s available. Benson has already taken a step forward this season, taking over third-down duties from Conner. Benson only managed 51 yards from scrimmage in Week 3, but he out-touched Emari Demercado 13-2. In Conner’s absence, Benson is a weekly RB2/Flex option. With Conner headed for injured reserve (IR), Benson will be a household fantasy name for the rest of the season.
Ollie Gordon (RB – MIA): 19% Rostered
- Next Opponents: NYJ, @CAR, LAC
- True Value: $5
- Desperate Need: $8
- Budget-Minded: $3
Analysis: The Dolphins are carrying a 0-3 record into a tough stretch of their schedule. Thankfully, this team looked functional against the Bills on Thursday Night Football last week. In that game, Ollie Gordon managed to score the opening touchdown on a two-yard run. We have seen in the past that Miami wants a bruising back to work alongside De’Von Achane. Earlier this year, it was suspected that sophomore Jaylen Wright would have that role. However, after a tough preseason and an early injury, Gordon appears to have taken Wright’s job. As a prospect, Gordon was primed to be one of the top backs in the Class of 2025 after an incredible 2023 season. Unfortunately, a mediocre 2024 campaign dropped him into the sixth round, where the Dolphins snagged him. If Miami can continue to piece together its offense, there should be more goal-line opportunities to come for Gordon. Plus, he has contingent upside if Achane were to miss any time.
Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): 39% Rostered
- Next Opponents: WSH, BYE, BUF
- True Value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: Tyler Allgeier needs to be rostered in every league. Don’t worry about last week; the Falcons had one of those divisional games where nothing seemed to go their way in a 30-0 loss to the Panthers. Allgeier is one of the premier backups in the league and has proven he can be a great fantasy player if he receives ample work. With Bijan Robinson ahead of him, Allgeier isn’t going to earn heavy work on the merits. However, in the first two weeks of the season, Allgeier was involved in the Falcons’ offense. He had 26 rush attempts, 100 yards and a score in Atlanta’s first two games. I believe that usage is more indicative of what the rest of the season will look like for this backfield. I would prioritize Allgeier over any WR5s or backup tight ends you may have on your bench.
Chris Rodriguez (RB – WSH): 3% Rostered & Jeremy McNichols (RB – WSH): 5% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @ATL, @LAC, CHI
- True Value: $2, $1
- Desperate Need: $4, $2
- Budget-Minded: $0, $0
Analysis: These Washington backs have a gauntlet over their next two games. Both the Falcons and Chargers have top-10 run defenses in terms of rushing yards allowed. We also have a three-back split between Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. What makes this situation appealing is that we have an ambiguous backfield in a high-powered offense. As the season progresses, any of these backs could take over as the lead guy. Croskey-Merritt is presumed to have the inside track. However, Rodriguez had 11 carries to Croskey-Merritt’s eight against the Raiders in Week 3. McNichols, who will likely be the Commanders’ receiving back moving forward, only had four carries on Sunday. However, one was an elite 60-yard touchdown run. It will be tough to rely on any of these backs, but Rodriguez and McNichols can at least be desperation Flex plays.
Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI): 13% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @LV, BYE, @WSH
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: The Bears finally found their offense in Week 3 against a Cowboys defense quickly becoming one of the worst in the league. Kyle Monangai had six carries for 16 yards and one reception for four yards against Dallas. The Bears now face a Raiders team that has been top-five against the run. Monangai is unplayable at this point. However, his path is clear. Despite averaging the fourth-most rushing yards before contact, D’Andre Swift has been rushing for the yards blocked in front of him, and nothing else. Against an abysmal Cowboys defense, Swift had 13 carries for 33 yards. Bears head coach Ben Johnson might look for more juice from this backfield as the season goes on. Johnson praised Monangai often this summer, and I expect that the seventh-round rookie’s role will increase after the bye week. If you have the roster space, Monangai is a back to keep your eye on in case Swift misses time, or Monangai’s role increases.
Woody Marks (RB – HOU): 9% Rostered
- Next Opponents: TEN, @BAL, BYE
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: We might have seen a changing of the guard last week. After only three rush attempts in his first two games, Woody Marks had six in Week 3. Dare Ogunbowale failed to appear in the Texans’ box score for a second consecutive week. Marks has seemingly overtaken the veteran pass-catching specialist and is getting work behind starter Nick Chubb. Any rookie backing up an aging veteran is a good player to roster. However, this Texans team needs to figure out its offense for any of these backs to have consistent fantasy value. With the Texans’ offensive line a mess, Marks could see an increased role due to his elite pass-catching and protecting abilities. While Marks only had six carries against the Jaguars on Sunday, it’s an upward trend for this late-round rookie running back.
Running Back Stash Candidates
Tyjae Spears is on the verge of coming off IR. Typically, players return from high-ankle sprains in 4-6 weeks. Spears injured his ankle in the preseason and will have missed the first four games, so it seems likely he’ll return for Week 5. It’s unclear what Spears’ role in this offense will be. However, Tony Pollard has been inefficient this season. Grab Spears while you can and see if he can bring some much-needed explosiveness to the Titans’ offense.
Blake Corum is quietly getting more touches each week. What was once Kyren Williams‘ kingdom is now accommodating Corum, too. The second-year back has topped 44 rushing yards in each of his last two games. Corum’s value predominantly comes from being the direct backup to Williams. Considering Williams had the third-most rush attempts in the league over the last two seasons, it’s probably smart for McVay to start mixing in Corum more often.
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