Top 6 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Backs (Week 5)

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 Running Back fantasy football waiver wire targets for the week below. And also be sure to check out our full fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Running Back

RUNNING BACKS

Written by Bo McBrayer

Kareem Hunt (KC): 35% rostered

• Next Opponents: NO, BYE, @SF
• True value: $11
• Desperate Need: $15
• Budget-minded: $6

Analysis: It’s slim pickings among the running backs available on waivers this week. I wasn’t sure how much action Kareem Hunt would get in the Kansas City backfield less than two weeks after he was signed on the heels of Isiah Pacheco‘s injury. The one certainty was that neither Samaje Perine nor rookie fullback Carson Steele was worth much FAAB last week. But it is time to add Hunt, who had 14 carries for 69 yards Sunday vs. the Chargers. He also brought in a couple of receptions, which was a part of his game when he was with the Chiefs earlier in his career. The Chiefs may have to lean on their running backs more heavily in the weeks to come in the wake of a knee injury to WR Rashee Rice. Hunt’s experience and versatility makes him a priority waiver add in this market.

Tank Bigsby (JAX): 11% rostered

• Next Opponents: IND, @CHI, NE
• True value: $10
• Desperate Need: $14
• Budget-minded: $6

Analysis: The Jags have a similar problem as their North Florida neighbors in Tampa Bay. Their established starting RB has struggled to gain yards on the ground. Travis Etienne also picked up a shoulder injury on Sunday, but it sure looked like he was simply pulled for Tank Bigsby in the first quarter. Bigsby ran the ball seven times for 90 yards Sunday against the Texans, including a 58-yard romp on which he was brought down inside the 5-yard line. Etienne returned and was fine, but Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is on the hottest seat imaginable. A backfield timeshare with Etienne and Bigsby, along with satellite back Dare Ogunbowale, could very well be on the horizon. Bigsby is the only one of the three who has looked the part on an underperforming Jacksonville team.

Rico Dowdle (DAL): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, DET, BYE
• True value: $9
• Desperate Need: $14
• Budget-minded: $5

Analysis: The Dallas Cowboys do not have a running game. They couldn’t even muster a decent performance against the Giants last Thursday, but the box score scouts will see Rico Dowdle‘s receiving touchdown and run to add him on waivers. Go ahead, but don’t overspend, and keep expectations at ground level. Neither Dowdle nor Ezekiel Elliott has found any room behind a young and unproven offensive line, and head coach Mike McCarthy’s play calling has also been as predictable as ever. Dallas has two very tough run defenses upcoming before its Week 7 bye. Dowdle doesn’t have much upside, but a running back who’s averaging 10.8 touches a game will have some appeal now that the bye weeks are upon us.

Roschon Johnson (CHI): 28% rostered

• Next Opponents: CAR, JAX, BYE
• True value: $7
• Desperate Need: $13
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: The Bears are more than their top rookie picks at QB and WR. They are a good football team. The Chicago defense is forcing turnovers, and the running game hit its stride against the Rams on Sunday. D’Andre Swift broke loose for a long touchdown, but Roschon Johnson cashed in on a precious goal-line carry. Johnson might be the RB2 in Chicago, but in certain game scripts, he will act as the lead back. He has already supplanted Khalil Herbert as the clear No. 2. Swift is next to get a few more plays as a spectator.

Ty Chandler (MIN): 33% rostered

• Next Opponents: NYJ, BYE, DET
• True value: $6
• Desperate Need: $12
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Ty Chandler is a premium handcuff option behind Aaron Jones, but the Vikings have featured Jones as a bona fide bell cow the last two weeks. Even a younger Jones didn’t hold up to that type of workload for very long. Chandler is a well-rounded player in a great offense. I expect his volume to increase substantially, especially if Jones wears down or misses time.

Trey Sermon (IND): 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: @JAX, @TEN, MIA
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $8
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Break glass in case of emergency. Trey Sermon is the random ax left to collect dust until disaster strikes. Jonathan Taylor left Sunday’s game with an apparent ankle injury in the second half. Sermon stepped in with five carries for a meager eight yards. Early reports suggest that JT’s injury is not serious, but any missed time vaults Sermon into a prominent role. You’d have to be extremely desperate for depth to add him either way.