FantasyPros Staff | Mon, Nov 17th 2025, 4:55am EST

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Backs (Week 12)

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 are all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 12.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Running Back

Running Backs

Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson

Emanuel Wilson (RB – GB): 7% Rostered

Next Opponents: MIN, @DET, CHI
True Value: $17
Desperate Need: $25
Budget-Minded: $9

Analysis: Josh Jacobs, who has been one of the NFL’s most consistent running backs over the last two seasons, left the Packers’ Week 11 game against the Giants in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return. Replacing Jacobs was Emanuel Wilson, who played 70.9% of the snaps in this game. Wilson carried 11 times for 40 yards and a touchdown, adding a nine-yard reception. The Packers’ other running back, Chris Brooks, played only 9.1% of the snaps. Wilson has flashed in the past, with big preseason performances and some explosive plays in relief duties. Early reports suggest Jacobs’ knee injury is not season-ending. However, it sounds as if he will miss some time. As a result, Wilson is our top waiver wire recommendation this week. If you are making a playoff push, go big for Wilson as the lead back on a team that has had its running backs score at least one touchdown in all but one of its games this season.

Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX): 30% Rostered

Next Opponents: @ARI, @TEN, IND
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $8
Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: One of the most anticipated late-round picks in fantasy drafts, Bhayshul Tuten continues to flash his playmaking skills despite limited touches. Going into Week 11, Travis Etienne was dramatically out-snapping Tuten, earning a 72.4% snap share to Tuten’s 26.4%. Through three quarters of the Jaguars’ Week 11 win over the Chargers, Tuten had played 41.9% of the snaps to Etienne’s 55.8%. This may finally be the usage shift Tuten managers have been hoping for. Unfortunately, Tuten suffered an ankle injury and left the game. It’s worth monitoring Tuten’s status because if Tuten continues to eat into Etienne’s work, he could be a valuable piece down the stretch.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT): 32% Rostered

Next Opponents: @CHI, BUF, @BAL
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $8
Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: We now have more than just a one-game sample size of Kenneth Gainwell getting the Steelers’ backfield to himself. In both games, Gainwell has finished with RB1 numbers and was used as the lead rusher and pass-catcher. Jaylen Warren left the Steelers’ Week 11 win over the Bengals with an ankle injury, allowing Gainwell to take advantage of an abysmal Cincinnati defense. He finished with nine rushes for 24 yards and seven receptions for 81 yards and two scores. It appears Warren’s ankle injury may be minor. However, if he misses time, Gainwell should be locked into fantasy lineups. With matchups against the Bears and Bills coming up, it’s a dream schedule for fantasy running backs. Monitor Warren’s injury and adjust your bids accordingly.

Sean Tucker (RB – TB): 26% Rostered

Next Opponents: @LAR, ARI, NO
True Value: $4
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: If you’ve kept a close eye on the Buccaneers’ backfield, you’ve noticed that Sean Tucker‘s involvement has slowly increased over the last few weeks. Or at least it was a slow increase until Tucker went off for 140 yards from scrimmage and three scores in Week 11. Despite the big day for Tucker, Rachaad White played all third downs and two-minute drill snaps for the Buccaneers. If Bucky Irving remains out, Tucker will operate as the Buccaneers’ lead back on early downs and in goal-line situations. Irving’s injury timeline has been ambiguous, but he returned to practice last week on a limited basis. The Buccaneers’ running backs have a tough Week 12 matchup against the Rams.

Bam Knight (RB – ARI): 17% Rostered

Next Opponents: JAX, @TB, LAR
True Value: $4
Desperate Need: $6
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Jacoby Brissett has turned the Cardinals into one of the league’s most fun offenses to watch. With all the pass-catchers taking huge steps forward for fantasy, we have started to see the Arizona running game follow suit. With Trey Benson expected to return sometime in the next couple of weeks, we have seen multiple Arizona backs share the workload in Benson’s absence. Most recently, it has been Bam Knight and Emari Demercado operating as the early-down and pass-catching backs, respectively. However, in Week 11, Demercado left in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Knight carried the ball five times for 24 yards and a score and also caught four passes for 21 yards. The Cardinals’ schedule is unfriendly to running backs over the next three weeks, but as long as Benson remains out, Knight will be an RB2/RB3 play.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB – WSH): 12% Rostered

Next Opponents: BYE, DEN, @MIN
True Value: $3
Desperate Need: $5
Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: Metaphorically, Jacory-Croskey-Merritt had a good run. Literally, his lack of decent runs has led to Chris Rodriguez Jr. taking the lead role in the Washington backfield. In each of his last three games, Rodriguez has had either double-digit carries or a touchdown. Although Croskey-Merritt has played more snaps over that stretch, Rodriguez has been the more effective back. Rodriguez has 160 rushing yards over the last three weeks, compared to Croskey-Merritt’s 96. Despite the tough matchups coming up after the Commanders’ Week 12 bye, Rodriguez is still worth picking up.

Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): 45% Rostered

Next Opponents: @NO, SEA, @NYJ
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: At this point in the season, I might start naming this section after Tyler Allgeier, who makes an appearance here every week. In Week 11, Bijan Robinson bounced back with two touchdowns and 143 yards from scrimmage. Once again, Robinson saw a dominant share of the snaps, playing 56 to Allgeier’s 14. However, Allgeier scored from the 1-yard line for his fourth touchdown in the last four weeks. On the season, he has dominated the carries inside the 5-yard line for Atlanta, and Allgeier remains a weekly Flex option. We’ve seen Allgeier have his best games in favorable matchups. With the Saints and Jets coming up, he is a player who should be rostered in all leagues.

Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN): 1% Rostered

Next Opponents: BYE, @WSH, @LV
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: Last week, we received the unfortunate news that J.K. Dobbins will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. Dobbins has dealt with injuries his whole career, and each time he has returned spectacularly. We’re wishing him a speedy recovery, and I already look forward to seeing him in 2026. In his absence, RJ Harvey led the way in the Denver backfield with 14 touches and 50 yards from scrimmage. Operating as the Broncos’ No. 2 back, Jaleel McLaughlin had seven touches, including a four-yard touchdown run. We all know the history of Sean Payton and committee backfields, which makes McLaughlin an intriguing pickup. When the Broncos emerge from their Week 12 bye, we could see an increased role for McLaughlin down the stretch.

Running Back Stash Candidates

With a great deal on the line in the Rams’ divisional showdown against the Seahawks on Sunday, Blake Corum continued to see significant work behind Kyren Williams. Corum had eight carries and one reception. He remains one of the most essential handcuffs in fantasy.

Ollie Gordon continues to be the Dolphins’ primary goal-line back. In Week 11, he had 45 yards and a score on nine carries. Gordon has limited upside in the receiving game but is always live to score a touchdown.

Brian Robinson Jr. is one of the best backup running backs in the league. If Christian McCaffrey were to miss any time, Robinson would instantly walk into No. 1 RB usage.

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