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 check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 8.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Running Back
Running Backs
Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson
Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI): 44% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @BAL, @CIN, NYG
- True Value: $9
- Desperate Need: $15
- Budget-Minded: $5
Analysis: Bears head coach Ben Johnson has found the secret sauce to the Chicago running game. Over their last two games, the Bears have dominated on the ground. They piled up 222 rushing yards against the Saints, and both D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai found pay dirt. Although Swift continues to operate as the lead back, the snap divide has been closing. Last week, Swift saw 52.9% of the snaps to Monangai’s 45.6%. This allowed both backs to pay off, with Swift rushing for 124 yards and a score, and Monangai rushing for 81 yards and a score. We know Johnson is no stranger to split backfields. In fact, Johnson presided over a split backfield in Detroit that included Swift. The Bears’ two running backs should continue to operate as a Walmart version of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. With Swift taking the Gibbs role and Monangai a discount version of Montgomery.
Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI): 22% Rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, @DAL, @SEA
- True Value: $5
- Desperate Need: $7
- Budget-Minded: $3
Analysis: Usually, I don’t recommend grabbing a committee back heading into his bye. However, with the upcoming schedule for the Cardinals, you might want to get ahead of the curve on this one. After their bye, the Cardinals face the Cowboys. Dallas is allowing nearly 150 total yards to opposing running backs each week. That’s a lot of yards to go around, which is good, because Zonovan Knight is sharing work with Michael Carter and D’Ernest Johnson. With Emari Demercado missing Arizona’s Week 8 loss to the Packers due to an ankle injury, Johnson played on third downs, leaving Carter and Knight to split the early-down work. Knight was the lead back, playing on 13 of the team’s 16 first-quarter snaps. In contrast, Carter didn’t see a touch until the second quarter and only had 11 yards on seven rushing attempts. With Carter’s inefficiency issues, the Cardinals might give Knight more work coming out of their bye. Knight will get an excellent Week 9 matchup against the Cowboys, who have struggled against the run.
Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): 38% Rostered
- Next Opponents: MIA, @NE, @IND
- True Value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: Please pick up Tyler Allgeier. I have repeated that sentiment in recent weeks, yet he is still only 38% rostered in Yahoo leagues. Allgeier is a premier backup on a team leading the league in rushing attempts per game (31.8). Even with Bijan Robinson having a career season, there is plenty of rushing goodness to go around on the Falcons. Buckle up, because this week the Falcons face the Dolphins, who have allowed an average of 170 rushing yards over their last four games. On Sunday, we saw the Browns’ Quinshon Judkins light up Miami for three touchdowns. Robinson will almost certainly be ranked as the RB1 this week, with Allgeier being playable as an RB3/Flex option.
Brashard Smith (RB – KC): 6% Rostered
- Next Opponents: WSH, @BUF, BYE
- True Value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: The Chiefs’ offense is cooking. Being able to bench your starters in the middle of the third quarter against a division rival is a power move. Brashard Smith‘s increased involvement was partly the result of a blowout game script in the Chiefs’ 31-0 win over the Raiders. However, Smith was given an opportunity while the starters were still playing. Smith finished the game with 14 carries for 39 yards and five receptions for 42 yards. Smith’s receiving ability sets him apart as a weapon. With the Chiefs averaging the sixth-most pass attempts per game, Smith should continue to see opportunities. Also, monitor the status of Kareem Hunt, who sustained an ankle injury on Sunday, and adjust bids on Smith accordingly. Smith can be a Flex option in full-point PPR formats this week, and he could become more valuable in the weeks to come.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN): 30% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @IND, LAC, BYE
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $3
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: The Titans are a mess. If you are a Tyjae Spears believer, hang your hat on the fact that he led the team in rushing on Sunday, and don’t read any more of this paragraph. Spears had 22 rushing yards in the Titans’ 31-13 loss to the Patriots and was outsnapped by Tony Pollard on third downs. Both backs had similar production in Week 7, but we had hoped Spears would have the third-down role. If Pollard outproduces Spears in the passing game, that means Spears is the 1B option on the worst team in the league. This may not sound appealing, but Spears remains one injury away from a dominant workload. With his electric playmaking ability, a full workload could catch the league by surprise despite the Titans’ offensive struggles.
Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT): 44% Rostered
- Next Opponents: GB, IND, @LAC
- True Value: $0
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Who would have thought that two 40-year-old quarterbacks would put on the kind of performance we saw last week in the Bengals’ win over the Steelers? With seven passing touchdowns between Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers, it was one of the better Thursday-night games we’ve seen. Jaylen Warren had a big game, with 158 yards from scrimmage. He is clearly the lead back in Pittsburgh, but Kenneth Gainwell continues to play about one-third of the snaps. In Week 4, Gainwell showcased what he can do if Warren misses time, finishing as the fantasy RB3 for the week with 19-99-2 rushing and 6-35-0 receiving. In Week 8, against a tough Packers defense, Gainwell will be a desperation Flex play, and he has contingent value if Warren misses time.
Running Back Stash Candidates
The only good thing about the Jets for fantasy right now is how concentrated the backfield is. With Breece Hall holding the lead role, Isaiah Davis is the only other Jets back to have a rushing attempt in each of the last two games. If Hall goes down or is moved, Davis would gain immense value.
Kendre Miller left the Saints’ Week 7 loss to the Bears in the first quarter and was ruled out before halftime. Miller’s injury opened the door for rookie Devin Neal, who got his first rushing attempts since Week 1. It’s worth monitoring Miller’s status, as Neal could split rushing work with Taysom Hill behind Alvin Kamara. The NFL is always unpredictable, and taking an early swing on a rookie back who’s playing behind an aging veteran is not the worst way to use a bench spot.
Speaking of running backs playing behind aging veterans, Brian Robinson Jr. is the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey. So far, McCaffrey has been one of the healthiest players on the 49ers (*vigorously knocks on wood*). On his own, Robinson is not a playable option. I won’t even say it, but if something were to happen to a certain individual on the team, Robinson would become a potential league winner.
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