Top 7 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Backs (Week 6)

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 here’s all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 6.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Running Back

RUNNING BACKS

Written by Bo McBrayer

Tank Bigsby (JAX): 22% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CHI, NE, GB
• True value: $22
• Desperate Need: $36
• Budget-minded: $14

Analysis: There is no coincidence. Jacksonville achieved its first win of the season on Sunday after essentially featuring Tank Bigsby as the lead back over Travis Etienne. The former Auburn standout looked incredibly explosive and versatile, with over 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He also hauled in one pass and broke free for a 28-yard gain, bringing 27.9 points to those who started him in PPR formats. Bigsby was drafted by the current regime in Jacksonville, whereas Etienne was a surprising first-round pick under disgraced former head coach Urban Meyer. I still believe in Etienne, but Bigsby is the guy RB-needy fantasy managers absolutely need to acquire.

Roschon Johnson (CHI): 20% rostered

• Next Opponents: JAX, BYE, @WAS
• True value: $13
• Desperate Need: $21
• Budget-minded: $7

Analysis: The Chicago Bears took care of business in Week 5. Carolina isn’t the most robust opponent on the schedule, but the excitement around this Bears offense has reached fever pitch. D’Andre Swift was incredible for the second week in a row, with Roschon Johnson filling in as the short yardage thumper and main substitute. Johnson plowed into the end zone twice on Sunday. The touchdown equity is inherent, especially with Swift’s peculiar penchant for going down at the 1-yard line. Johnson also has a skill set versatile enough to take on a greater role in the future.

Tyrone Tracy (NYG): 23% rostered

• Next Opponents: CIN, PHI, @PIT
• True value: $10
• Desperate Need: $17
• Budget-minded: $6

Analysis: It was surprising how effective Devin Singletary was before sustaining a groin injury in Week 4. I suppose more attention should have been paid to Tyrone Tracy and Eric Gray stepping up in his stead. Tracy, a rookie from Purdue, looked very capable in New York’s upset road win over Seattle. He racked up 129 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown, while Gray lost a fumble while reaching for the goal line that was returned 102 yards for a defensive score. There are two concerns with adding Tracy on waivers. The first is Singletary’s return, which could immediately relegate the rookie back to swing duties. The other is Tracy’s lack of receiving upside. He has pass-catching ability as a former college receiver who switched to running back after transferring from Iowa to Purdue, but Brian Daboll’s system does not target the RB position often. I’ll still take a shot and bid on him given the current state of RBs in fantasy football.

Ty Chandler (MIN): 28% rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, DET, @LAR
• True value: $8
• Desperate Need: $15
• Budget-minded: $5

Analysis: Just in case Aaron Jones‘ hip injury costs him multiple weeks, this is an opportunity to add a big-play merchant who already had an established role. Chandler’s Week 5 production was modest vs. the stout Jets defense in London, but he had two chunk plays called back by penalties. Many fantasy managers will be reluctant to add Chandler during Minnesota’s bye week, but the two games after it are great opportunities to make a splash. You might be able to get a slight discount on Chandler with the Vikings on bye in Week 6.

Braelon Allen (NYJ): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: BUF, @PIT, @NE
• True value: $8
• Desperate Need: $15
• Budget-minded: $5

Analysis: Through sheer smooth-brained coaching, Braelon Allen has been upgraded from premium stash to must-add. Breece Hall is a megastar running back but was only given 12 touches in London against the Vikings. Allen was on the field for most of the goal-line plays in a baffling display from Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Neither back was effective on Sunday, but the splits were consistent. If Allen continues to get this much run, he needs to be rostered everywhere.

Justice Hill (BAL): 31% rostered

• Next Opponents: WAS, @TB, @CLE
• True value: $5
• Desperate Need: $9
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: We’re still jiggling for Justice (shoutout, Homer Simpson) Hill these days. Derrick Henry is the NFL’s leading rusher and alien liaison to the human race, but Hill is consistently earning passing-down opportunities. Baltimore’s offense is on a tear. There aren’t too many pieces who can be ignored with how often the Ravens are in scoring position. Hill’s usage took a dip in a back-and-forth battle with the Bengals in Week 5, but his snap share did not. He is, at worst, a reliable change of pace for Henry who can be freely rostered in PPR leagues as a deep flex starter.

Tyler Goodson (IND): 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: @TEN, MIA, @HOU
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The Colts really missed Jonathan Taylor on Sunday. Trey Sermon plodded along with a 3.8 yard-per-carry average and fell into the end zone, but Goodson racked up 26 yards on his five carries and 31 yards on three receptions. Sermon added six receptions himself, but they mostly came in Indy’s desperate comeback frenzy late in the game. He looked incredibly sluggish in the open field. Goodson can be stashed on deeper benches, with hopes that Shane Steichen noticed what I did on tape. When Taylor returns from his ankle injury, Goodson should be the change-of-pace back going forward.