RADIO
This might be the worst week for RB waivers yet. Another six teams will be on bye in Week 9 and thankfully there weren't any major injuries to create job openings. At this point, you are chasing upside, filling holes in your lineup, or stashing players for future weeks.
As usual, this article will aim to highlight Week 9 waiver wire adds for running backs, players that you should consider targeting on your league's waiver wire if available. 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 and a suggested percentage of your FAAB to spend on each player.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!
Frontrunners for Week 9 - Waiver Wire Running Backs
Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins - 3% owned (7-10% FAAB)
Meet your new starting RB for the Miami Dolphins, folks. The shocking trade of Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia clears a path for Drake to take over unexpectedly. Unless the Dolphins make a move to trade for or sign a veteran running back in the next couple of days, Drake will be handed the keys to a team that wants to lead with the run and has only pass-catching back Damien Williams as a competitor. The fact that this is a shocking turn of events can't be overstated, as Drake enters Week 9 with just 43 career rush attempts and a total of 25 rushing yards this season. As a third-round pick out of Alabama last year, he figured to have a decent role aside from returning kicks, but it just hasn't happened. While the opportunity is there (for now), don't go crazy spending on him lest the team decide to find help elsewhere or shift to Williams instead.
Alex Collins, Baltimore Ravens - 34% owned (5% FAAB)
The South Florida product racked up 113 yards on the ground in his homecoming versus the Dolphins on Thursday night. After a down game against Minnesota, he once again looked every bit the player who was leading the league in yards per carry. This pickup would be better if we knew Joe Flacco was playing next week, but the specter of having Ryan Mallett under center kills much of Collins' vibe. Plus, the Ravens go on bye the following week, so you won't be using him in consecutive weeks. He doesn't catch the ball often or score touchdowns, so prioritize him in standard leagues where long gains are rewarded.
Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals - 19% owned (3-5% FAAB)
Hear me out here. There are a number of factors going against Ellington: he didn't suit up in Week 7 due to a quad injury, Adrian Peterson is in town, Drew Stanton is the new QB. None of those should be considered, however, when determining Ellington's value. After a week of rest and a bye, he should be cleared to play. AP is not a threat to Ellington's receiver-only workload on passing downs. No Carson Palmer could mean more dumpoffs to backs like Ellington rather than deep balls down the field. If there's a case to be made for sneaky value in a shallow week for waivers, this is it. Only consider him if you're in a full PPR league.
In The Running - Week 9 Waiver Wire Running Backs
Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts - 44% owned (5-7% FAAB)
It might seem like an odd time to grab Mack. After all, Frank Gore had his best game of the year with 101 total yards and Mack only managed 27 yards on 11 carries. Plus, the Colts face a Texans team in Week 9 that, despite allowing 41 points to Seattle, managed to hold their running backs to a total of nine yards combined. The plus side is that Mack scored a touchdown, is getting more involved in the passing game, and will continue to see an increased snap share with Robert Turbin done for the year. He's more of a desperation PPR flex than anything, but could be worth stashing for the playoff run if he becomes more involved as a runner.
Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants - 47% owned (3-5% FAAB)
You know the pickings are slim when Darkwa makes this list after a bye week. His career game in Week 7 very well could prove to be a huge outlier in an otherwise lackluster season (and career), but it's too soon to know for sure. Darkwa should still get first-team reps and will face a Rams team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. That said, Darkwa is actually getting fewer red zone touches than Wayne Gallman this year (4-7), so don't assume he's most likely to reach the end zone. Both are shots in the dark, but Darkwa has the opportunity edge at the moment.
DeAndre Washington, Oakland Raiders - 19% owned (2% FAAB)
It looks like D-Wash won the battle between him and committee mate Jalen Richard on Sunday. Washington was used often in the pass game, catching eight passes for 62 yards and a touchdown along with 26 rushing yards. Beast Mode returns from a one-game suspension next week, but Washington should still have some PPR value if they stick with a similar game plan. He too goes on a bye after Week 9, so consider him a one-week filler as well.
Rob Kelley, Washington Redskins - 41% owned (2% FAAB)
At least he reached the end zone, right? Kelley has struggled to stay healthy, but was good early in the year when given the chance. In a choice matchup with Dallas, he picked up just 19 yards on eight carries and left the game with his third different injury of the season. He wouldn't be an ideal start against Seattle next week or Minnesota the following week either. Simply put, if you're willing to go with the All-RB Bench Stash strategy and keep him around for the playoff run in hopes he can stay on the field, he's got the upside and will retain the RB1 job by default.
Honorable Mentions: Damien Williams, Wayne Gallman
Dark Horses - Week 9 Running Backs Waiver Wire
Matt Forte, New York Jets - 46% owned (2% FAAB)
The veteran of this group, Forte now serves almost exclusively in a pass-catching role. This gives him somewhat of a decent floor in full PPR leagues, but severely undercuts his ceiling as well. Forte hasn't seen double-digit rush attempts in a game once this season and he also hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 9 of last year. If you need a safe few points just to get by, he might serve a purpose.
Matt Breida, San Francisco 49ers - 9% owned (1% FAAB)
This was going to be a tough matchup no matter who took the lead in carries, yet Breida found a way to bring value to the table. He showed off his 4.4 speed with a 21-yard scurry to the end zone on a shovel pass in the third quarter, marking the only offensive touchdown for the Niners. If they can find a way to use him more unconventionally and expand on his six pass targets, Breida could bring PPR value by serving as an outlet for his rookie QB.
Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots - 8% owned (0% FAAB)
Personally, I still don't trust any Pats RB and would go elsewhere in search of a running back. That said, I'm obliged to mention that Burkhead did catch seven passes for 68 yards against the Chargers. Of course, the Patriots are on a bye so it isn't doing you any good to add him now anyway. Deep PPR RB bench stashers might take note, but others can ignore him as long as James White is still around.
Honorable Mentions: Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon, D'onta Foreman
Time To Say Goodbye
Jalen Richard, Oakland Raiders - 31% owned
Hello and goodbye. If you grabbed Richard for his one-week stint as the starter in hopes of some value, you were sorely disappointed as I was. DeAndre Washington out-touched him and it was Jamize Olawale running in a short goal-line carry for a touchdown, not Richard. This game put a dent in Richard's dynasty value too, as he didn't prove capable of generating anything in the opportunities he was given. He can be discarded in all leagues.
All Seattle RBs, Seattle Seahawks - 19% owned
Enough already. It's bad enough there have been five different running backs in and out of the rotation this year, with Pete Carroll either unwilling or unable to settle on one. Now we get to watch the Seahawks put up 41 points against a tough defense while not a single running back can break 10 yards on the ground! Thomas Rawls managed -1 yard on six carries and is averaging 2.0 Y/A this season. Eddie Lacy did him one better with zero yards on six carries and has a 2.6 Y/A average. J.D. McKissic is averaging all of 36 total yards per game. Don't bother hoping one of these backs has a breakout moment, because this backfield seems broken.
Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles - 45% owned
It would appear the Eagles weren't crazy about their backup RB situation after all. After a decent game against the Chargers, Smallwood offered nothing in the Darren Sproles role and hasn't stayed healthy either. Since Ajayi offers nothing in terms of pass-catching, Smallwood could stick on the roster and make Corey Clement expendable instead, but he isn't going to get enough playing time to be worth your time
