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.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Running Back
Running Backs
Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson
Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): 30% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @CAR, WSH, BYE
- True Value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: Tyler Allgeier is one of the premier backups in fantasy football. Because of that alone, he should be rostered in all leagues with more than eight teams. In Week 1, Allgeier split touches with Bijan Robinson in the backfield, though he was not used in the receiving game. Allgeier may not be playable if Robinson is healthy, but he would instantly be a fringe RB1 if Robinson missed any time. Allgeier’s contingent upside might make him more valuable than some of the WR3s or WR4s parked at the end of your bench.
Kenneth Gainwell: 8% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @NE, MIN, BYE
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $3
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: The Steelers are using a true running back committee this season. Kenneth Gainwell led the team in snaps in Week 1, but Jaylen Warren played 58.1% of the offensive snaps in Week 2, with Gainwell playing 41.9% of the snaps. The noteworthy development in this backfield is that Kaleb Johnson apparently is not ready for the NFL. The third-round rookie had another disappointing performance, finishing with one carry for one yard and a botched kickoff return that resulted in a Seattle touchdown. As a result, this is a two-man backfield with Warren and Gainwell. It will be difficult to determine which back will lead the charge each week. However, both will see enough touches to be Flex-worthy in deeper leagues. Gainwell also possesses contingent upside if Warren were to miss any time.
Jeremy McNichols (RB – WSH): 0% Rostered & Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB – WSH): 4% Rostered
- Next Opponents: LVR, @ATL, @LAC
- True Value: $2, $1
- Desperate Need: $4, $1
- Budget-Minded: $0, $0
Analysis: I would like to take a second to appreciate Austin Ekeler. The 2017 UDFA worked his way into fantasy superstardom with the Chargers. Known as one of the nicest (and most jacked) players in the NFL, Ekeler is one of the few players who seems to appreciate fantasy football. Joining industry stalwart Matt Harmon on podcasts, Ekeler’s fantasy analysis and NFL insight were a welcome combination. Wishing him a speedy and full recovery after he tore his Achilles tendon last week. In his absence, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are primed for increased roles. McNichols will likely take on the receiving work, with Rodriguez operating as Jacory Croskey-Merritt‘s backup. Croskey-Merritt hasn’t exactly looked incredible over the past two weeks. I could see McNichols taking on more work as the season goes on, potentially becoming a Flex option for fantasy. With a favorable schedule coming up, McNichols and Rodriguez might be worth grabbing to see what the usage split will be.
Running Back Stash Candidates
Last week, Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he wanted to get Kyle Monangai more carries. Turns out he meant it. Despite playing in a negative game script throughout a lopsided loss to Detroit, Monangai had seven carries for 28 yards and one reception for eight yards — although he played behind D’Andre Swift, who had 12 attempts for 68 yards and a score. Still, any increase in role for a seventh-round rookie is worth noting. We know Swift is not an immovable object on the depth chart. Monangai may not be an unstoppable force, but he checks all the boxes for a rookie running back who could break out later in the season.
Tyjae Spears sustained a high-ankle sprain in the preseason and landed on injured reserve (IR), so we won’t see him until at least Week 5. Although Tony Pollard has been relatively effective as the Titans’ workhorse early on, we heard Titans head coach Brian Callahan talk in the offseason about wanting to use both backs. If you have an IR spot, Spears is definitely worth a grab-and-stash in case he has a prominent role when he returns. Plus, he is the clear backup to Pollard in case the starter ends up missing time.
Texans rookie Jo’Quavious Dequane “Woody” Marks played 13 snaps against the Buccaneers on Monday and had 3-14-0 rushing and 1-37-o receiving on one target. Marks appears to be overtaking Dare Ogunbowale as Houston’s primary pass-catching back. If you have the bench space, Marks is worth rostering.
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