Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 3

September 13, 2020

Phil Clark's fantasy football running back waiver wire pickups before Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season. These are free agent fantasy RBs to add, and potential PPR sleepers to stash.

After two weeks of the regular season, some of the running backs that were drafted in the early and middle rounds have performed effectively for anyone who selected them. Hopefully, you are among the fantasy GMs that have received favorable results from your backs. Unfortunately, other runners have not delivered the results that were expected.

That applies to a growing collection of backs that have encountered injuries, including Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley. Other managers are contending with backs that have been encumbered by production-inhibiting committees. Regardless of why you might be considering your waiver wire options, this article is designed to help you pinpoint the best backs that remain available as we enter planning for Week 3.

These recommendations will appear in three tiers - beginning with the most enticing and progressing to runners for fantasy GMs that are struggling with desperation. You will also find a group of backs that can be dropped in order for you to secure your replacements. After you've finished this breakdown, you can also find news updates and data-fueled analysis that is designed to help you maximize the scoring potential of your rosters.

Running Back Leaderboard

Frontrunners - Week 3 Waiver Wire Running Backs

These backs should be your top priorities among the options that are available on most waiver wires. Some will be more beneficial in PPR formats than standard. All players have 60% or less ownership in typical fantasy leagues.

Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams

30% rostered

Henderson was sidelined during LA's season opener due to a hamstring issue. But his stock has increased dramatically following his usage and output during the Rams' Week 2 matchup at Philadelphia. Henderson led LA in rushing attempts (12) and rushing yards (81/6.8 per attempt) while exploding for 121 yards and a touchdown. Malcolm Brown carried 11 times and manufactured 47 yards (4.3 per attempt) before contending with a finger injury, while Cam Akers' involvement ended prematurely due to a rib injury (3 attempts/13 rushing yards).

Powering through for his first NFL touchdown!

Congratulations, @DarrellH8! ? pic.twitter.com/oOHykYpTau

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 20, 2020

Henderson has presented an appealing upside due to his potential for delivering big plays. But his home run capabilities had not been displayed at the NFL level until Sunday. The health of Akers and Brown should be monitored as the week progresses, and Sean McVay could distribute touches to all three of his backs whenever the trio can resurface on the field. But Henderson should have earned a higher percentage of touches after his high-quality production in Week 2. That vaults him among this week's primary targets on the waiver wire.

Mike Davis, Carolina Panthers

1% rostered

Christian McCaffrey has never missed a game since entering the league in 2017. This sustained health during his NFL career has enabled him to amass 646 rushing attempts, accrue 311 receptions, and generate 5,666 total yards. But that streak will end after the seemingly invincible McCaffrey suffered a high ankle sprain during Carolina’s NFC South matchup in Tampa.

McCaffrey will be sidelined from 4-6 weeks in the aftermath of an MRI on his problematic ankle. This elevates Davis into RB1 duties for the Panthers until McCaffrey can reemerge. The 5’9”, 220-pound Davis gained just one yard on his only rushing attempt in Week 2. But he did capture all eight of his targets for 74 yards against the Buccaneers. The absence of McCaffrey is a scenario that fantasy GMs would have preferred to avoid. But anyone who secures Davis can deploy him in their lineups until McCaffrey can eventually function as the centerpiece of Carolina’s attack.

Devonta Freeman, New York Giants

12% rostered

Barkley was sidelined by a knee injury during the first half of his matchup in Chicago. This is an unwanted situation for anyone that selected him among the top two picks during their drafts. There was not a legitimate insurance policy on the current Giant roster, it was uncertain that Dion Lewis could ascend into responsibilities as New York's primary back. But the situation has been altered through the signing of Freeman.

The 28-year-old back declined an offer from the Seahawks last May and departed Jacksonville without a contract earlier this month. But he will now join a Giant rushing attack that has a definitive need for his contributions. The timeline for Freeman to be ready for a significant workload is uncertain. But Lewis and Gallman should receive touches until Freeman is ready to emerge.

None of the backs that are currently in the Giants’ roster can provide the prospects of league-winning upside that exists with premier backups such as Chase Edmonds, Alexander Mattison, Tony Pollard, or Latavius Murray. But Freeman is worthy of targeting on your waiver wire. He is also available in nearly 90% of all leagues.

In The Running - Week 3 Waiver Wire Running Backs

These backs remain available on the waiver wire but are not necessarily must-adds.

Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers  

39% rostered

The Chargers began the season with Austin Ekeler established as the primary back, while both Kelley and Justin Jackson were contenders to split carries with LA’s elusive RB1. There was also the potential for the Chargers to spread the touch distribution among all three backs on a regular basis. But after two games, Kelley has now carried 35 times, while generating 124 yards on the ground. Jackson has collected just two carries after a quad issue sidelined him for the Charger’s AFC West matchup with Kansas City in Week 2.

Joshua Kelley is the first @Chargers player to post 100+ yards from scrimmage in one of the first two games of his NFL career since LaDainian Tomlinson https://t.co/zEIY0deXfq pic.twitter.com/MGcUbpXLA1

— ProFootballReference (@pfref) September 20, 2020

The  injury has already encumbered Jackson’s ability to rise from his spot on the depth chart, as Kelley becomes increasingly entrenched in his role as the Chargers’ RB2. The 5’11”, 210-pound Kelley has made an immediate impact with his first two performances, and his proficiency should rise as he gains experience. This should compel fantasy GMs to secure him for their rosters while he remains available.

Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals

42% rostered

Edmonds' numbers during Arizona's Week 2 matchup with Washington were not overly impressive (6 touches/13 total yards. But that should not diminish your motivation to secure him for your rosters. He remains available in nearly 60% of all leagues, even though he is entrenched among the most enticing roster additions on the waiver wire. Edmonds is the consummate insurance policy for anyone who has Kenyan Drake on their rosters and would ignite statistically if he were to absorb Drake’s workload for any reason. 

Edmonds also retains the potential to assemble sizable yardage whenever he is on the field. He could have scored a touchdown for a second consecutive week versus Washington but was overthrown by Kyler Murray in the end zone. Kliff Kingsbury has also characterized Edmonds as a"starting running back", and appears to have made it a priority to blend Edmonds into his weekly strategic approach. Edmonds is a home run threat on every touch and would become a potential league winner if Drake is suddenly unavailable.

Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings

45% rostered

Mattison has been an unwavering recommendation in this column. That continues this week due to his proximity to a mammoth touch total and the sizable numbers that he will accrue if that workload develops. Mattison has demonstrated repeatedly that he is capable of gaining yardage as a rusher and receiver, and would be presented with the opportunity to flourish in an every-down capacity if Dalvin Cook is absent from Minnesota’s lineup.

While Mattison is operating as Cook’s backup, he does receive a weekly allotment of touches and performs proficiently during those opportunities. He assembled 80 total yards on 10 touches during Minnesota’s season opener but was limited to 16 total yards on four touches in Week 2 against the Colts. Cook has now accumulated 113 rushing yards on 26 attempts, while also producing three touchdowns. But Mattison will vault to RB1 status for fantasy GMs if he absorbs Cook's extensive workload at any point during the season.

Dark Horses - Week 3 Waiver Wire Running Backs 

This group consists of running backs that can be added if you are willing to wait for the possibility of a larger role during the year, or consider your situation to be desperate due to injuries.

Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco 49ers

20% rostered

McKinnon could soar to the top San Francisco's depth chart after beginning the season as a candidate to compete for touches with Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman. He has now accumulated nine touches while accruing 121 total yards during the 49ers' first two matchups. That includes the team's Week 2 invasion of New York when McKinnon assembled 77 rushing yards and a touchdown on just three attempts against the Jets.

Jerick Mckinnon really took it 55 yards on 3rd & 31 ?

(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/lP5rUDhaXm

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 20, 2020

McKinnon's efficiency with his opportunities would have cemented him among this week's recommendations to target on your waiver wire. But his workload will also increase if Mostert (knee) is unable to perform this week against the Giants. Kyle Shanahan had seemingly settled on Mostert as the 49ers' primary back, and the former Purdue Boilermaker had accumulated 258 total yards. He also bolted for an 80-yard touchdown reception against the Jets. But Mostert's departure elevated McKinnon into an expanded role. Mostert's MCL sprain will also keep him sidelined this week, while Coleman is dealing with a knee sprain that will force him to miss multiple contests. This has positioned McKinnon for a significant workload. He remains available in 80% of all leagues and is a viable roster addition before this week's matchup in New York.

Frank Gore, New York Jets 

14% rostered

Many fantasy GMs remain uninspired by the concept of adding a 37-year-old back. However, Gore’s relevance was ascending this week even before the Jets placed Le’Veon Bell on injured reserve (hamstring).

Adam Gase’s puzzling track record of player usage includes his indifference toward Bell. But he also shares a positive relationship with Gore from their time together in Miami and San Francisco. This was a factor in Gase’s commitment toward providing Gore with a weekly role regardless of Bell’s status. Gore (24 rushing yards) also outperformed Bell (14 rushing yards) when both backs carried six times in Week 1.

At 37 years and 129 days old, Frank Gore just became the oldest player with 20+ carries in a game in NFL history ✅#AgelessWonder

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) September 20, 2020

But Gore easily functioned as New York’s lead back during the Jets’ Week 2 matchup with San Francisco while stockpiling 21 attempts. Bell’s injury and Gase’s imprecise leadership have created a situation that is unfavorable for anyone who selected Bell. But it also provides the opportunity to add Gore, who can function as a flex in deeper leagues.

Also-Rans - Time To Say Goodbye

These backs can be dropped in order to secure a running back with greater potential to bolster your scoring during the year.

Matt Breida, Miami Dolphins

48% rostered

Breida appeared to provide a level of explosiveness that has been severely lacking in the Miami backfield before the Dolphins acquired him from San Francisco. But optimism that surrounded his arrival during the offseason has evolved into nightmarish usage and production for anyone who invested a Round 9 draft selection on the 25-year-old back. Breida resides below Myles Gaskin on Miami’s depth chart and has accumulated just 59 rushing yards on 12 carries during the Dolphins’ first two matchups.

His involvement as a pass-catcher also consists of one reception for two yards. Even if Breida were to somehow attain a higher percentage of the touch distribution in upcoming weeks, the Dolphins’ backfield has become overcrowded with the emergence of Gaskin, and the potential for Patrick Larid to also become involved. Breida will also be functioning within a Miami offense that contains multiple shortcomings. That destines fantasy GMs for continued disappointment in upcoming weeks and should supply the incentive to discard him.

Jordan Howard, Miami Dolphins

74% rostered

While Breida's relevance is dissipating rapidly, Howard’s has evaporated completely. He joined the Dolphins with an opportunity to operate as the early-down back, with red zone carries blended into the equation. But his 0.9 yards per attempt average in Week 1 was eerily reminiscent of the microscopic rushing results that were delivered by Kalen Ballage (1,8 per attempt) and Patrick Laird (2.7 per attempt) when Miami’s ground game ranked dead last during 2019.  He also managed just four yards on five attempts (0.8 per attempt) during his Week 2 matchup with Buffalo and has now manufactured a minuscule 11 yards on 13 attempts during his first two games with the Dolphins (0.85 per attempt). Even if Howard’s workload were to increase slightly in the upcoming weeks, it would be extremely risky to start him. That should compel managers to avoid using him, which also removes any rationale for keeping him on your rosters.

Duke Johnson, Houston Texans

26% rostered

Johnson was rostered in 48% of all leagues entering Houston’s season opener against Kansas City. But that percentage dropped to 26% when the Texans hosted Baltimore. There are multiple reasons why you should join other fantasy GMs that have removed him from their rosters. Regardless of  your opinion regarding Duke Johnson’s talent as a dual-threat weapon, David Johnson is embedded above him on Houston‘s depth chart. Bill O’Brien has provided consistent evidence that Duke will only be deployed on a specific percentage of plays each week.

David has carried 22 times, assembled 111 rushing yards, and amassed 48 receiving yards after two games. But Duke carried just five times and did not register a reception during Houston's season opener. Even though Duke appears to supply the Texans with a valuable resource to supplement David, O’Brien has shown no indication that he shares that sentiment. Duke's ankle injury also kept him sidelined during the Texans’ Week 2 matchup, which creates uncertainty surrounding the date of his return. However, your timetable for making better use of his roster spot is now.

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