Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets & FAAB Advice: Running Backs (Week 3)

We will have you covered throughout the 2023 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 waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out our top waiver wire targets for the week below. And find our full Week 3 fantasy football waiver wire advice article here.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

RUNNING BACKS

Written by Bo McBrayer

Roschon Johnson (CHI): 38% rostered

  • Next Opponents: @KC, DEN, @WAS
  • True value: $17
  • Desperate Need: $29
  • Budget-minded: $11

Analysis: The inevitable occurred ahead of schedule when D’Onta Foreman was inactive in Week 2, paving the way for stud rookie Roschon Johnson to shoulder a larger workload. Johnson is very well-rounded, and his role as a mop-up checkdown receiver will come in handy with how atrocious the Chicago defense has been.

Chuba Hubbard (CAR): 19% rostered

  • Next Opponents: @SEA, MIN, @DET
  • True value: $12
  • Desperate Need: $22
  • Budget-minded: $6

Analysis: Though not exactly the most riveting player to this point in his career, Chuba Hubbard is the clear second man in the Carolina backfield behind Miles Sanders. The Panthers also have one of the most favorable early-season schedules in the NFL. This translates to adding Hubbard for your own depth and plugging him in as a flex starter if the need arises.

Justice Hill (BAL): 44% rostered

  • Next Opponents: IND, @CLE, @PIT
  • True value: $10
  • Desperate Need: $18
  • Budget-minded: $5

Analysis: Gus Edwards was a great waiver pickup from last week, but Justice Hill was also much more useful for fantasy than expected and is still under 50% rostership. His 14 touches in Week 2 included three receptions – a refreshing new look for Baltimore’s offense. While the Gus Bus is more likely to see goal-line work, it’s Hill’s speed and receiving ability that make him a worthy addition in fantasy.

De’Von Achane (MIA): 45% rostered

  • Next Opponents: DEN, @BUF, NYG
  • True value: $10
  • Desperate Need: $18
  • Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: Achane is slowly creeping toward being ineligible for this column after spending the offseason and Week 1 as a stash play. He was activated in Week 2 in New England after missing the first game with a shoulder injury. Expect Mike McDaniel to slowly ease Achane into the fray before folding his illustrious speed into Miami’s relay team of an offense.

Tyjae Spears (TEN): 17% rostered

  • Next Opponents: @CLE, CIN, @IND
  • True value: $8
  • Desperate Need: $13
  • Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: The Titans haven’t done very well with bolstering their RB room around Derrick Henry, but Tyjae Spears is already earning a solid role through his first two professional games. The former Tulane back is very explosive in the open field and more than adequate as a receiver. This is less of a handcuff than it is a bet that the rookie will continue to carve out games with double-digit touches.

Matt Breida (NYG): 1% rostered

  • Next Opponents: @SF, SEA, @MIA
  • True value: $4
  • Desperate Need: $7
  • Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Saquon Barkley‘s lower-leg injury at the end of the Giants’ Week 2 win over the Cardinals is problematic for fantasy. Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell have barely seen the field to this point, neither making an impression. Explosive rookie Eric Gray has only seen the field as a kick returner. Beware the waiver spend for the sake of chasing a miracle, especially if Saquon only figures to miss Thursday’s game against the nasty 49ers defense.

Stash Candidates:

Ty Chandler is just simply more dynamic than starter Alexander Mattison, who has had a dreadful start to the season. Chandler is better equipped to be efficient with Minnesota’s increased usage of inside zone and gap run concepts instead of the outside zone that the previous regime drafted Mattison to fit. The younger Chandler is very likely to take Mattison’s starting job this season.

Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn each saw rotational work to spell Tony Pollard in the Cowboys’ first two games. Dowdle is better equipped to be pressed into action should the starter miss any work.

Jerome Ford deserves a bit more optimism than someone viewed as just a deep roster stash. He stands to be the back most likely to step into Kareem Hunt‘s spot in the rotation for Cleveland and is a good receiver, even though his pass catching wasn’t necessary in the Browns’ Week 1 win over the Bengals.

Isaiah Spiller and Elijah Dotson are both worthy of stashing in very deep leagues as insurance for Joshua Kelley, especially if Austin Ekeler misses further time.