September 27, 2016

Pierre Camus' 2016 fantasy football tiered rankings for Week 4 running backs (RB) - waiver wire pickups, adds & sleepers for PPR and non-PPR. These are NFL RBs to target

With seemingly every other starting running back injured, the waiver wire was lighting up last week. Did you make the right add? Shane Vereen came up big until news of his season-ending surgery derailed fantasy hopes. Jerick McKinnon predictably faltered against the tough Panthers defense but is still a long-term option. Dwayne Washington got some chances, but didn't do much with them. Meanwhile, the Eagles seem to have more quality running backs than my entire fantasy teams combined. Such is Fantasy Life.

Each week, this article will aim to highlight running backs that you should consider targeting on your league's waiver wire. Running backs will be split up into three tiers from most desirable to most desperate. I will also include RBs at the bottom of this list that you might consider cutting in order to make room for your new additions.

All players listed have 50% or less ownership levels across Fleaflicker leagues.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about more Week 4 waiver wire recommendations, for all other positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB

Frontrunners for Week 4 - Waiver Wire Running Backs

This group consists of running backs that I would unconditionally recommend adding if they are available on your waiver wire. These players have either earned a greater workload due to injury/performance issues or have shown that they can be weekly contributors to their NFL teams.

Jordan Howard (RB, CHI) 22% owned - Howard is finally getting the chance to strut his stuff as Jeremy Langford continues to be ineffective. With an ankle injury suffered by Langford on Sunday night, Howard now become the flavor of the week. He showed some burst with a 36 yard run against Dallas and finished with 45 yards on the ground and another 47 through the air. He should see more carries as the year goes on, even as Langford returns. He is held back by Chicago's woeful supporting cast, but still has enough big play ability to provide streaming value.

Orleans Darkwa (RB, NYG) 1% owned - Darkwa saw a decent share of snaps and produced 53 yards on 10 carries and a goal-line TD. He wasn't much of a factor in the passing game with Vereen around, but with news of Vereen's season-ending injury, he now carries significant value in standard leagues. When Jennings returns, he won't be asked to carry a full load and Darkwa could easily vulture goal-line work. He should be added in all 12+ team leagues.

Dwayne Washington (RB, DET) 23% owned - Washington quickly gained steam as one of the most popular pickups last week, but didn't deliver for owners who took a chance starting him. The Lions fell behind quickly and couldn't rely on the running game. Washington ultimately turned 10 carries into 38 yards. With Ameer Abdullah done for the year, Washington will get plenty of chances and should get most of the goal-line work if he proves capable of converting short runs. Hang onto him or consider adding him for depth. Detroit has a great matchup against the Bears in Week 4, so this may be the time to plug him in or try to acquire him from a disappointed owner.

In The Running - Week 4 Waiver Wire Running Backs

This group consists of running backs widely available on the waiver wire who aren't must-adds, but could be worth stashing or streaming if the above options are already taken.

Kenyan Drake (RB, MIA) 16% owned - The Dolphins running game has been a mess so far, as the team had just 115 total rushing yards against Cleveland and hasn't had a runner go for more than 38 yards in a game yet. Drake's starting status won't last long once Arian Foster returns, but seeing him jump Jay Ajayi on the depth chart indicates he could see more time going forward. In a short week of prep for a tough Cincinnati defense on the road, he is hard to recommend as a starter. Still, he is a threat out of the backfield and makes for a smart stash in deeper PPR leagues.

Dexter McCluster (RB, SD) 6% owned - Once the Bolts signed McCluster mid-week, it was known he would fill the Danny Woodhead role. This gives him immediate value in PPR leagues, although he may see fewer rush attempts if Melvin Gordon keeps progressing as a primary ball carrier. He finished his first game as a Charger with two catches for nine yards and no carries, but should see his playing time increase once he has time to actually practice with the team. He came within a foot of scoring a touchdown as Philip Rivers barely missed him on a pass near the end zone sideline. He is going for a lower price than popular pickups like Jerick McKinnon and Dwayne Washington, yet could produce just as much for fantasy owners over time.

Darren Sproles (RB, PHI) 39% owned - He hadn't done much in the first two weeks, but Sproles showed he still has big play ability with a 73 yard touchdown catch-and-sprint, making several defenders miss in the process. Ryan Mathews' apparent ankle issues put the Eagles in full-blown RBBC mode, but Sproles remains the primary pass-catcher regardless. He is a constant flex option in PPR leagues.

Wendell Smallwood (RB, PHI) 1% owned - The rookie came out of nowhere to run for 79 yards and a touchdown, after seeing just three total carries in the first two games. It's hard to imagine him getting such a big workload each week with Mathews, Barner and Sproles also in the mix. The fact that the Eagles had a huge lead all game against the Steelers provided a chance for the team to see what he could do. While it may lead to more chances, expecting more than 10 carries might be a mistake. He is certainly worth a speculative add if you have the roster space.

Honorable Mentions: DeAndre Washington (RB, OAK) 11% owned, Devontae Booker (RB, DEN) 10% owned, Bilal Powell (RB, NYJ) 24% owned, Alfred Morris (RB, DAL) 23% owned

Dark Horses - Week 4 Running Backs Waiver Wire

This group consists of running backs who are strictly desperation plays. They could serve as a bye week fill-in, short-term injury replacement or weekly lottery ticket.

Jay Ajayi (RB, MIA) 37% owned - Nice of you to show up at the last second. Jay Ajayi spent almost the entire game watching from the sideline (seven carries for 28 yards) until he scored the game-winning TD in overtime against a vastly undermatched Browns team. The fact he couldn't earn a start over rookie Kenyan Drake tells you how little confidence the coaching staff has in him right now. Foster will be a no-go this week again, which means Ajayi gets one more chance. It doesn't mean he has much value right now, even as a handcuff.

Alex Collins (RB, SEA) 0% owned - With Thomas Rawls ruled out possibly for several weeks with a hairline fracture in his fibula, Collins backs up the suddenly revived Christine Michael. He carried the ball just four times for 12 yards, but is technically next in line if Michael goes down. He is simply someone to monitor for now or add as a stash for disappointed Rawls owners.

Matt Asiata (RB, MIN) 27% owned - Asiata remains a nightmare for McKinnon owners as he lurks in the distance, ready to vulture touchdowns. Neither RB had the chance this week, but Asiata saw a decent snap share with 19, compared to 36 for McKinnon. He will always have some value in standard leagues as a risky flex play, but his ceiling remains limited.

Honorable Mentions: Fozzy Whittaker (RB, CAR) 36% owned, Jalen Richard (RB, OAK) 6% owned, Rob Kelley (RB, WAS) 1% owned, Kenjon Barner (RB, PHI) % owned, Robert Turbin (RB, IND) 0% owned

Also-Rans

Shane Vereen (RB, NYG) 44% owned - Vereen took full advantage of Rashad Jennings' absence by running for 67 yards, catching 28 more and scoring a TD. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn triceps and it was revealed on Monday afternoon that he will need season-ending surgery. Latch onto Darkwa while you can.

Ameer Abdullah (RB, DET) 36% owned - Whether he will reappear this season is still a matter of debate, but Abdullah will definitely miss the next several weeks on the IR list. It's not as if he was setting the world on fire before his injury, so consider adding Dwayne Washington or another player on this list instead of holding on in the hope of squeezing a couple of good weeks out of him at the end of the fantasy season.

Cameron Artis-Payne (RB, CAR) 19% owned - I intentionally omitted CAP from last week's recommended adds because, frankly, he's never done anything to deserve it. Despite Fozzy Whittaker's strong Week 2, the Panthers went primarily with Artis-Payne and he predictably flopped against the Vikes with just 47 rushing yards. He'll have one more week to disappoint before Jonathan Stewart returns and makes him irrelevant again. Don't waste your valuable roster space.