X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Week 1 Running Backs: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds

Up until this point of the fantasy season, the draft is the pick topic of discussion. What pick do you have? Who did you get? Who are your sleepers? The draft is definitely a huge factor in winning your fantasy league, but it's important to remember that the roster that you leave your draft with is not the roster that is going to be competing for the league title at the end of the year. Upgrading your roster throughout the season is absolutely key and one way to do that is by being active on your league's waiver wire.

The waiver wire is where league's can be won. Just last season, we saw players like Odell Beckham Jr., C.J. Anderson, and Justin Forsett be waiver wire adds that ended up top 10 at their respective positions. My goal on the waiver wire is to try to find players that, with the proper opportunity, can be top players at their positions. This ultimately creates value in two potential ways: either you are able to play the added player in a starting spot of your weekly lineup, or it gives you a trade chip to use to find help at a position of weakness.

Each week, this article will aim to highlight running backs that you should consider targeting on your league's waiver wire. I've split these players up into three tiers from most desirable to most desperate. Additionally, I've included players at the bottom of this list that I would be comfortable cutting as I don't see them contributing in a major way this season.

Editor's Note: Our friends at FantasyFeud are hosting Survivor and Seasonal Leagues perfect for the non-DFS fantasy manager, and you can enter for as little as $1. If you sign up and deposit now, you'll receive a 100% bonus AND a get free full season of RotoBaller's NFL Premium Tools & DFS Lineups Picks ($39.99 value).

 
 

Cream of the Crop Running Backs for Week 1 Waiver Wire

These are running backs that I would add no matter what if they are available on your waiver wire. These players have a chance to be starters and weekly contributors to their NFL teams:

Knile Davis (RB, KC) - 57% owned on Fleaflicker

Only Ryan Mathews rivals Davis as a handcuff for the upcoming season, and that has more to do with Chip Kelly's system than Mathews' talent. In the two games that Jamaal Charles missed (or missed significant time) last season, Davis average 119 total yards per game and scored 3 total touchdowns. Davis is a talented runner and almost a guarantee to finish as a top-12 RB if Charles weren't in the picture. The Chiefs were ranked as the #2 run blocking team last season by ProFootballFocus, and as long as Andy Reid sticks to the run, I see Davis as a must-own running back.

Matt Jones (RB, WAS) - 23% owned on Fleaflicker

In case you've been living under a rock, here at RotoBaller we are very high on Matt Jones and have been writing about him ad nauseam for months. Some people may look at this situation and say - he's just a backup or handcuff, and we've been down this road with Roy Helu before. But there's more than meets the eye. First of all, he's a better RB than Roy Helu, and the Redskins coaches absolutely love this kid. He's young, talented, strong and fast. They hand picked him. Jones is going to be getting touches regardless, taking away work from Alfred Morris. And since the Redskins will most likely be playing from behind a lot, he should get a lot of passing targets as the receiving back. Morris can't catch, so Matt Jones may be getting as many touches as him early in the season, and eventually surpassing him as the lead back. Add him now. Seriously, go pick him up if he's still sitting on your league's waiver wire.

Honorable Mentions: Danny Woodhead (RB, SD) - 49% owned, Duke Johnson (RB, CLE) - 45% owned

 

Wait and See Running Backs for Week 1 Waiver Wire

These are running backs highly available on the waiver wire who you should consider stashing if you have room:

Khiry Robinson (RB, NO) - 17% owned on Fleaflicker

Saints lead-back Mark Ingram is also highly regarded by draft experts and is being taken as a top-15 RB based off of his stretch run in 2014. Listen, Ingram had a decent 10 game stretch to finish the season where he averaged 91 total yards and scored 6 total touchdowns. However, the TDs drove Ingram's value last season. He still only averaged 4.2 yards per carry over that 10 game period. Additionally, he's been hurt every season of his career, playing in just 50 of 64 potential games, most of that being before he was scheduled to get a heavy workload.

There has also been a lot of talk about C.J. Spiller in the offseason and rightfully so. Spiller has the talent to be a top-10 RB as we saw him do in Buffalo. He's inheriting the Reggie Bush / Darren Sproles role in the New Orleans which has been fruitful in the past. Similar to Ingram though, Spiller is no guarantee to stay on the field, playing just 9 games last season and being a week to week headache in the past.

Ultimately, Robinson should fill in for either one of these guys if they were to get hurt. The running back position is all about opportunity and I expect that Robinson will not only get that chance at some point, but he'll also be very good when that opportunity arises.

Terrance West (RB, TEN) - 48% owned on Fleaflicker

West isn't an especially talented running back, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry behind a very good run blocking Cleveland Browns offensive line. Once again though, this is about opportunity. Titans starting running back, sophomore Bishop Sankey, was equally as mediocre last season with a pedestrian 3.7 yards per carry. The Titans were pushing hard for rookie David Cobb to split time in the backfield with Sankey before he was put on injured reserve with a calf injury, at which point they immediately went out and traded for West. I have to imagine West will get his chance at some point this year.

Honorable Mentions: Reggie Bush (RB, SF) - 46% owned, Darren Sproles (RB, PHI) - 41% owned

 

Hail Mary Running Backs for Week 1 Waiver Wire

These are desperation plays who shouldn't be starting for you. The injury bug, bye week troubles, or something else needs to be affecting your team to add these players:

DeAngelo Williams (RB, PIT) - 58% owned on Fleaflicker

Williams' day as a lead back in the NFL are long gone, and he probably will struggle with health again this season, but with Le'Veon Bell out for the first two weeks of the season, Williams at least offers a running back that will get some consistent touches if you are in a pinch.

Bryce Brown (RB, BUF) - 5% owned on Fleaflicker

Bryce Brown is a talented running back who has had success backing up LeSean McCoy in the past when McCoy has gone down. The Bills cut Fred Jackson last week, opening up the backup role for Brown, and with McCoy already dinged up, you have to imagine that Brown will get some touches in Week 1 while McCoy eases back in.

Honorable Mentions: David Johnson (RB, ARI) - 21% owned, Denard Robinson (RB, JAX) - 12% owned, Christine Michael (RB, DAL) - 12% owned, Terrance West (RB, TEN) - 5% owned

 

Running Backs to Consider Cutting for Week 1

These are players that I would be comfortable releasing for a "Cream of the Crop" or "Wait and See" player:

Jonas Gray (RB, FA) - 52% owned on Fleaflicker

Gray had DeAngelo Williams type week 1 appeal with the potential for more if LeGarrette Blount found himself in any more trouble. The Pats cut him loose though this week which means he can be dropped in all formats.

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

David Bednar57 mins ago

Nearly Blows Save Opportunity On Friday
Jake Cronenworth1 hour ago

Hits Pivotal Home Run In Win
Brent Rooker2 hours ago

Hits Home Run No. 1 In Win Over Mariners
Jeffrey Springs2 hours ago

Strikes Out Nine, Picks Up Win In Shutout
Owen Caissie2 hours ago

Goes Deep In Season Opener
Dillon Dingler2 hours ago

Homers, Collects Three RBI On Friday
Chandler Simpson3 hours ago

Tallies Three Hits In Triple-A Debut
Juan Soto3 hours ago

Belts First Home Run Of The Season
Emmanuel Rodriguez3 hours ago

Shines In Triple-A Season Opener
David Festa3 hours ago

Sharp In Triple-A Start
Max Muncy3 hours ago

Launches First Career MLB Home Run
Jack Leiter3 hours ago

Earns Victory On Friday
Kevin Gausman3 hours ago

Tosses Six Innings Of Two-Run Ball
Otto Lopez4 hours ago

Hits First Round-Tripper Of The Season
Oneil Cruz4 hours ago

Goes Deep, Swipes A Bag On Friday
Jonah Heim4 hours ago

Launches Two Solo Shots On Friday
Mookie Betts4 hours ago

Hits Two Long Balls
Eugenio Suárez4 hours ago

Eugenio Suarez Goes Deep Twice On Friday
Gleyber Torres10 hours ago

Homers, Departs Early With Side Injury
Josh Jung10 hours ago

Pulled Early On Friday With Neck Stiffness
Orlando Arcia13 hours ago

Resting On Friday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
9
11
10
12
19
13
22
14
24
15
25
16
33
17
39
18
40
19
41

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Najee Harris - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football Buy or Sell: Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason

One year ago, we discussed the futures of Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Aaron Jones as those free agents found new homes. This year's headliners are Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, and Jordan Mason. Not quite the same. Still, with every transaction come implications for dynasty fantasy football rosters across the globe. Below, we […]


Romeo Doubs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Undervalued NFC Draft Targets

While the 2025 fantasy football redraft season is still several months away, there is no such thing as being too prepared for your fantasy draft. Fantasy football is year-round, even for those who only play in redraft leagues. The landscape of fantasy football will change between today and the start of redraft season, with the […]


Detroit Lions Defense, Aidan Hutchinson - Fantasy Football DST Rankings, Streamers, IDP Sleepers

2025 Fantasy Football IDP Sleepers: Five Draft Targets

It's notably difficult to identify sleepers in fantasy football IDP leagues. The skill of the players in question is very important, but situation also plays a large factor, as does a recent history of injuries. Rather than bucketing them into groups, it's better to analyze each one individually, look at where they are in terms […]


Ashton Jeanty - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Ashton Jeanty's Top Potential Landing Spots For 2025: Fantasy Football NFL Draft Outlook

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty will enter the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the best prospects in the class. Jeanty just ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns across 14 games this past college season. Those 2,601 rush yards were the second-most of all-time in FBS history, only behind Barry Sanders's 2,628 rush yards […]


Bhaysul Tuten - NFL Draft Prospects, Rookie Rankings

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single QB

The 2025 NFL Combine has now been completed, so it's worth doing another mock draft to see where everyone stands after the league's pre-draft testing event. Overall, there were a few surprises, but the order of many players will remain the same. The mental domain of the original rankings, which have been fairly set in […]


Rashid Shaheed - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Later-Career Breakout Candidates

Typically, most NFL players break out in the early parts of their careers. Between the ages of 20 and 25 is when you expect to see the majority of players have their first big season. Some waste no time and put together excellent years while they're rookies, while some need more time to develop. These […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Free Agency Tracker - Updates On Every Free Agent Signing (2025)

HuThe NFL offseason is starting to heat up, and the league's legal tampering period is set to begin on March 10 at noon Eastern. Free agents cannot officially sign until the new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, but deals will be agreed to, and news will be coming in quickly […]


Marvin Mims Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Undervalued Draft Targets For Every AFC Team

Fantasy football is year-round, even for those who only play in redraft leagues. Much will change over the next several months, including the rest of free agency, the NFL Draft, and training camp. However, it’s never too early to look at potential sleeper candidates and undervalued draft targets for next season. Therefore, let’s look at […]


Kirk Cousins - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Worst NFL Contracts: Seven Overpaid, Overvalued Players For 2025

Free agency is in full swing, and teams are handing out big contracts left, right, and center. Myles Garrett became the highest-paid non-QB just a few weeks ago, and Ja'Marr Chase broke that record almost instantly! But big contracts aren't always a success; just ask these teams. These teams had high hopes when they spent […]


Tank Bigsby - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Dynasty Sleepers - Undervalued Running Backs For 2025

Getting ahead of the game is the name of the game in any game, especially if that game happens to be dynasty fantasy football and you want to find underrated running backs to add to your rosters. The shelf life for many RBs isn't very long in the NFL, so it's a position you want […]


Najee Harris - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Outlooks For RBs On New Teams: Najee Harris, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason, Raheem Mostert, Elijah Mitchell, more

Free agency has fueled a massive wave of player movement that has transformed the fantasy landscape. This includes the results that have emerged after a collection of running backs garnered contracts that will launch them into new environments this season. These backs will be challenged to replicate the prolific numbers that were assembled by the […]


Ja'Marr Chase fantasy football rankings NFL DFS lineup picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football WR Rankings Analysis – Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers

There's no question that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, and New York Giants wideout Malik Nabers are all elite receivers with sky-high production potential for fantasy football. Lousiana State University is WRU, without a doubt. This trio, along with Brian Thomas Jr., proves it. While we won't be covering […]


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Eight Best Ball Fantasy Football Players To Target For 2025

Fantasy football is an evolving game. While dynasty is the most popular year-round form of fantasy football, best ball leagues are gaining ground. The best part of best ball leagues is the ability to draft a million teams and not have to manage them during the season. It allows fantasy players to scratch the offseason […]