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Fantasy football waiver wire pickups analysis for Austin Ekeler, Bhayshul Tuten, Braelon Allen in Week 1 (2025). Read their waiver wire outlooks for fantasy football.
During the final week of the preseason, many backup running backs have begun to make a strong case to see a larger opportunity in the regular season. As a result, fantasy managers must monitor their waiver wire to ensure that any high-upside options are safely stashed on their bench.
In this piece, we will look at a rookie running back who is slowly climbing the depth chart and two other running backs who opened the season as backups but are now nearing the starting job.
Are Ekeler, Tuten, and Allen worth adding off the waiver wire in Week 1? Here are the latest outlooks on each for fantasy football.
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Austin Ekeler Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 55% of leagues
Austin Ekeler spent much of his time during his debut season in D.C. serving as the team's primary third-down back while Brian Robinson Jr. took most of the attempts out of the backfield. However, with Robinson being traded to San Francisco, Ekeler has a viable chance to open the season as the team's starter.
Despite missing time with a concussion last season, Ekeler still racked up 367 yards and four scores on the ground (on 77 attempts) and added 366 yards on 35 receptions through the air.
While seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has begun to make massive headlines and seen his stock soar in the preseason, do not be surprised if Dan Quinn and the coaching staff opt to lean on Ekeler at least early in the season. While Croskey-Merritt has the skill set to be the primary running back, the seventh-round rookie may be given a strict workload to open the season.
In their final preseason game, the Commanders opted to rest both Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt, suggesting that both were viewed as starters and key pieces of the offense.
While Ekeler will have less value in standard formats due to lower projected rushing attempts, he will carry solid flex value in PPR formats, playing in a high-potential offense led by breakout QB Jayden Daniels. He needs to be rostered in all PPR formats and all 12-team half-PPR leagues.
Austin Ekeler in three games without Brian Robinson Jr.:
• 59.9% snap share
• 23.4% opportunity share
• 30.6% touch share
• 42.3% rush share
• 14.7 opportunities per game
• 13.7 touches per game
• 67.3 scrimmage yards per game
• 1.0 touchdown per game
• 15.4 PPR points… pic.twitter.com/Er8b6HQ70u— FTN Fantasy (@FTNFantasy) August 25, 2025
Baller Move: Add in All PPR Leagues
Bhayshul Tuten Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 50% of leagues
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Tuten with the 104th overall pick (fourth round) in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. While this landing spot did not seem ideal at the time, given that Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby occupy spots on the depth chart, Tuten could carve out a role sooner than expected.
Following his breakout 2023 season, Etienne entered 2024 with high expectations. However, the Clemson product struggled, posting a career-low 3.7 YPC. Bigsby flashed much higher potential, posting a strong 4.6 YPC.
During the preseason, both Etienne and Bigsby have alternated opportunities with the first team, while Tuten has worked primarily with the third team. While this will not rule Tuten out from earning a larger role, it does suggest the rookie will have to earn playing time at least early in the season.
However, given that this new coaching staff, led by Liam Coen, personally drafted Tuten and has no ties to Etienne or Bigsby, Tuten could find himself on the field more often as the season progresses. While he is not a must-add in shallow formats, he is a top high-upside stash option in all 12+ team leagues entering Week 1.
Last season, Coen opted to lean on breakout rookie Bucky Irving in the stretch run over the inconsistent veteran Rachaad White. A similar scenario could unfold in Duval County this fall.
Bhayshul Tuten 2025 Preseason Highlights 📈 #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/9bV8jZeHHk
— Nash Henry (@NashJagsNats22) August 25, 2025
Baller Move: Add in 12-team leagues
Braelon Allen Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 50% of leagues
The former fourth-round selection from last year's draft did not have a productive rookie season. While he typically was deployed as the clear No. 2 option behind workhorse Breece Hall, when he did take the field, he was not very impressive. As a rookie, Allen posted a low 3.6 YPC. He tallied just 334 yards on 94 attempts with only two touchdowns.
However, this offseason, Allen has taken significant strides and appears to be making a strong case to see a larger workload in his sophomore season. In the preseason, Allen has consistently posted first-team reps alongside Hall. In fact, Allen has looked much more productive. In their opener against the Packers, Allen posted a strong 4.1 YPC, while Hall held a 3.0 YPC.
In their second contest against the Giants, Allen led the team in rushing with a stellar 4.9 YPC, compared to Hall's 3.7 YPC.
While Hall will likely open the season as the team's RB1, he will not be given as long a leash as he was in 2024. While Tuten may have to jump two running backs to earn a starring role, Allen will only have to jump one. He is a priority stash in all leagues as he could claim this starting job quite early in the season.
Aaron Glenn on Braelon Allen:
"It's crazy, a grown man that's 240 lbs that's the youngest guy in the league, & I think he's shown exactly who he can be when it comes to the running game. His YPC is up there."#Jets pic.twitter.com/aYhek0vc9X
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) August 19, 2025
Baller Move: Add in 12-team leagues
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pickup off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
Who Should I Pickup? Some common 2025 fantasy football waiver wire decisions are regarding players like Austin Ekeler, Braelon Allen, Bhayshul Tuten. But not to worry, we are here to help make these waiver wire decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups in 2025. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to pickup... all free! Make the right decisions.
2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus in on specific players - Austin Ekeler, Braelon Allen, Bhayshul Tuten. These are some common searches for 2025 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player name. In the second box, search for the second player name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections and more.
Recent Improvements For Who Should I Pickup? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Pickup? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win on the waiver wire in 2025. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, stats, projections, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and update it constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players that are ranked.
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