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Congratulations to those of you who are constructing rosters in Week 17. You have maintained your highest level of flexibility while navigating through injuries, unexpected decreases in usage, substandard performances, and other unwanted developments that emerged during the season. Now this diligence has placed you on the threshold of your league's championship.
Winning your league has been your primary goal from the moment that you began preparing for your draft. It has also remained the driving force behind every roster decision that you have made throughout the regular season and your playoff matchups. Now, you are just one win away from fulfilling your championship aspirations. This article is dedicated to helping you make the critical decisions that await you by recommending the best running backs to target on your waiver wires.
These recommendations will appear in three tiers -- beginning with the most enticing and progressing to runners that are available if you are contending with desperation. You will also find a group of backs that can be considered as droppable in order for you to secure your replacements. Good luck to all of you with your matchups in Week 17.
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!
Week 16 Rushing Leaders
| Week 16 Rushing Leaders | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Att |
| Aaron Jones | 21 | 127 | 6 |
| Khalil Herbert | 20 | 112 | 5.6 |
| Kyren Williams | 22 | 104 | 4.7 |
| Breece Hall | 20 | 95 | 4.8 |
| Derrick Henry | 19 | 88 | 4.6 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 15 | 80 | 5.3 |
| Najee Harris | 19 | 78 | 4.1 |
| Bijan Robinson | 12 | 72 | 6 |
| James Cook | 20 | 70 | 3.5 |
| Tyler Allgeier | 9 | 69 | 7.7 |
Frontrunners - Week 17 Waiver Wire Running Backs
These backs should be your top priorities among the options that are available on most waiver wires.
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders - 24% Rostered
Zamir White’s viability as a roster addition has been sustained after Josh Jacobs remained sidelined during the Raiders’ Week 16 matchup with Kansas City (quad/illness). Jacobs’ two-game absence has also supplied White with an opportunity to function as the temporary lead back for Las Vegas.
White has also capitalized by accumulating 214 yards with his 39 carries during the Raiders’ last two matchups.
ZEUS! 💪
Zamir White’s first career regular season touchdown lets Raiders start the scoring.pic.twitter.com/Cd6hUAxLD9
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) December 15, 2023
That includes White’s numbers when the Raiders traveled to Kansas City in Week 16. White secured a 76% snap share, and surged to career highs in yardage (145) and attempts (22) while averaging 6.6 yards per attempt.
Zamir White breaks free for 43 yards!
📺: #LVvsKC on CBS/NICK
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/2Mgsj0ajbL pic.twitter.com/oKfu0kNCrG— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2023
Jacobs’ status should also be monitored in advance of the Raiders’ Week 17 visit to Indianapolis. However, White should be included among this week’s top priorities, as he will become a valuable asset if Jacobs’ absence continues.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs - 35% Rostered
Isiah Pacheco resurfaced after a two-game absence (shoulder) to reclaim duties as Kansas City’s lead back when the Chiefs hosted the Raiders in Week 16. However, Pacheco sustained a concussion during the matchup.
This has combined with the placement of Jerick McKinnon on injured reserve to create an uncontested path for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to operate as Kansas City’s primary back during the Chiefs’ Week 17 matchup with Cincinnati.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire looking like a 1st Round RB for the first time in his career 🤯
Anything can happen in the NFL!
pic.twitter.com/tfnXYaHk1E— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 17, 2023
Edwards-Helaire and McKinnon had both ascended into expanded roles while Pacheco was unavailable. Edwards-Helaire played on 67 snaps during those contests, while leading the backfield in rushing attempts (24), rushing yards (76), and receiving yards (93).
CLYDE EDWARDS HELAIRE STIFF ARM pic.twitter.com/tAtm3J8zuc
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 25, 2023
Edwards-Helaire also played on 29 snaps while assembling 48 total yards on seven touches in Week 16. That includes his involvement as a receiving weapon, as he collected all three of his targets, and generated 42 yards.
Updates surrounding Pacheco’s health should be monitored as the week advances. However, Edwards-Helaire’s prospects of operating with a sizable workload have elevated him among this week’s top priorities on your waiver wires.
In The Running - Week 17 Waiver Wire Running Backs
These backs remain available on the waiver wire and could become resources for your rosters.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans – 45% Rostered
The recommendations to add Tyjae Spears have maintained a recurrent presence throughout the regular season. He also remains a viable roster addition as you progress through your decision-making process for Week 17.
Spears’ home run potential remains unquestioned, as does his ability to accumulate sizable gains and fantasy points whenever he is operating with a favorable workload. Whether that transpires this week is dependent upon the distribution of touches between Spears and Derrick Henry when Tennessee visits Houston on Sunday.
Endzone, meet Tyjae Spears 🤝
First career TD for @tyjae22
📺: Watch #TENvsIND on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/z011MF4Byc
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 8, 2023
Spears has now eclipsed a 50% snap share during 11 different matchups during the year. He also leads the Titans' backfield in routes run (245), targets (64), and receiving yards (293).
That includes his involvement in Week 16 when Spears led the Titans’ backfield with 36 snaps, while accumulating nine rushing attempts and 40 rushing yards. He also collected five of his six targets and assembled 27 yards as a pass-catcher.
The explosive rookie could provide a significant scoring boost to your Week 17 lineup if he is entrusted with an expanded workload. That supplies the rationale for adding him and monitoring updates surrounding Spears and Henry as the week progresses.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons - 47% Rostered
Arthur Smith’s allocation of touches within Atlanta’s backfield has become a source of frustration for fantasy managers who have Bijan Robinson contained on their rosters. This subject became the source of escalating scrutiny after Robinson was limited to just seven carries in Week 15.
However, Tyler Allgeier’s ongoing involvement in Atlanta’s backfield rotation has also sustained his viability as a flex option. Allgeier has accumulated 175 rushing attempts (11.7 per game) entering Week 17, which has nearly matched the season-long total of Robinson (188/12.5 per game).
Allgeier goes ALL THE WAY 💨#ProBowlVote x @tylerallgeier25
📺 FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/EvxFB7Q8i4— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 24, 2023
Allgeier has also carried 9+ times during 11 different contests during the season, while also accumulating 13+ rushing attempts six times. He is also pacing the Falcons with 32 attempts inside the red zone, while Robinson (18) and Cordarrelle Patterson (six) have combined for 24.
That includes Allgeier’s workload in Week 16 when he carried nine times and generated 69 yards on the ground. He should collect a sufficient number of opportunities to warrant consideration as a flex option when the Falcons visit Chicago in Week 17.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears - 45% Rostered
This recommendation arrives with a caveat as it has been proven throughout the regular season that elevating any member of Chicago’s backfield into your lineup can lead to massive frustration.
This is the result of the recurrent unpredictability surrounding the allocation of touches to Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman, and Roschon Johnson, who have all paced the backfield in rushing attempts and rushing yards during various weeks of the season. That includes Weeks 1-5 when Herbert attained a 58.8% snap share while averaging a team-high 10.2 attempts and 54.4 rushing yards per game.
However, this column would be remiss if Herbert was not included in this week’s waiver wire options in the aftermath of his performance in Week 16.
.@JuiceHerbert turned on the jets 💨
📺: #AZvsCHI on FOX | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/vvVQzhCvbm
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 24, 2023
Herbert led Chicago’s backfield with 36 snaps, soared to season highs in rushing attempts (20) and rushing yards (112), and averaged 5.6 yards per attempt. He also generated his first touchdown of the season.
It is understandable if you prefer to avoid any member of Chicago’s backfield entering Week 17. However, Herbert is a back that can be secured from this week’s waiver wire if a steady collection of injuries and uninspiring performances have limited your roster options.
Dark Horses - Week 17 Waiver Wire Running Backs
These backs should be considered if you are searching for players who could eventually emerge in your lineups.
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens - 18% Rostered
Keaton Mitchell’s unfortunate knee injury abruptly ended his prospects of providing a late-season statistical explosion that would have been beneficial to the Ravens and the fantasy managers who had secured him for their rosters.
Mitchell’s season-ending injury has also opened the path for Justice Hill to resurrect the value that had degenerated when Mitchell seized a role in Baltimore’s backfield rotation.
Hill operated with a 44.3% snap share from Weeks 1-9, while averaging 7.3 rushing attempts/31.4 yards per game. He also led Baltimore’s backfield in routes run (116) and collected 15 of his 16 targets.
Hill’s snap share decreased to 29.5% from Weeks 10-15, as did his per-game averages in carries (3.3) and yards per game (15.5). He also ran 52 routes and was limited to five targets and two receptions.
However, Hill led the Ravens' backfield in snaps (39), rushing attempts (10), targets (three), receptions (three), and receiving yards (31) when Baltimore traveled to San Francisco in Week 16. Gus Edwards accumulated 28 snaps, nine carries, collecting his only target, and produced 39 receiving yards.
Hill should also garner enough opportunities to function as a flex option when Baltimore hosts Miami in Week 17.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals - 20% Rostered
Chase Brown’s late-season infusion into Cincinnati’s backfield rotation had fueled his ascension into must-add status entering the Bengals’ Week 16 matchup with Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, Brown’s usage in Week 16 was disappointing, as he registered 14 snaps, carried four times and was limited to two targets, even though he operates with a burst that Joe Mixon cannot replicate.
BENGALS ROOKIE CHASE BROWN SCORES THE 54-YARD TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/QPfYwpueAR
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) December 10, 2023
However, anyone who is contending with injuries and other challenging developments can still consider the addition of Brown as he has demonstrated the ability to erupt for sizable gains. Brown has now played on 54 snaps since Week 13. The explosive rookie has also assembled 125 rushing yards with his 28 attempts while averaging 4.5 yards per attempt.
He has also accumulated 22 routes while capturing all eight of his targets and generating 116 yards as a receiving weapon. Brown’s big play capabilities could propel him to a favorable yardage total if Zac Taylor expands Brown’s workload when Cincinnati travels to Kansas City in Week 17.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles - 27% Rostered
Kenneth Gainwell warrants inclusion among this week’s recommendations as the third-year back continues to reside directly below D'Andre Swift on Philadelphia’s depth chart.
Anyone who can comfortably locate a roster spot can consider the addition of Gainwell. He would elevate into an expanded role if factors leading into Week 17 compel Nick Sirianni to alter the percentage of touches that are distributed within the Eagles’ backfield.
Flyin' into the endzone, @KENNETHGAINWEL! pic.twitter.com/XazSGGwqhE
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 5, 2023
Gainwell secured a 45.8% snap share from Weeks 13-15, while Swift operated with a 50% share. Gainwell has also accumulated 18 attempts and 95 rushing yards since Week 13 while averaging 5.3 yards per attempt during those contests.
Gainwell has also accumulated 10 targets, eight receptions, and 80 receiving yards since Week 13. Having Gainwell secured on your rosters provides you with the opportunity to elevate him into your lineup if there are indications that his touches will increase when the Eagles host Arizona in Week 17.
Also - It Is Time To Say Goodbye
These running backs can be dropped to secure an RB with greater potential to bolster your scoring during the year.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans - 55% Rostered
Dameon Pierce is still rostered in 55% of all leagues. If you are among the fantasy managers who have retained him, there is no discernible rationale for keeping him on your rosters.
Pierce’s inability to perform efficiently with his opportunities has contributed to a significant decrease in his workload. That is a combination that should encourage you to locate alternative options on your waiver wire.
Pierce commandeered a 51.6% snap share from Weeks 1-5. He was also averaging 16.8 attempts per game but just 2.9 per attempt during that sequence. He was sidelined from Weeks 9-11 with an ankle injury and his snap share has plunged to 19.2% since Week 12. He has also been relegated to just eight attempts and 18 rushing yards since Week 14.
Devin Singletary has performed effectively as the Texans’ lead back while averaging 16 carries/76.7 yards per game since Week 14. The unfavorable blend of Pierce’s continual ineffectiveness and his restricted role should incentivize you to remove him this week.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders - 64% Rostered
Antonio Gibson remains rostered in over 60% of all leagues, even though he is not operating with enough opportunities for you to trust him in your lineups.
Brian Robinson Jr. has yet to re-emerge after sustaining a hamstring issue during Washington’s Week 13 matchup with Miami. However, even though Robinson Jr.’s absence seemingly positioned Gibson to confiscate lead back duties in the Commanders’ reconstructed backfield, it is Chris Rodriguez Jr. who has led Washington in rushing attempts (20) and rushing yards (93) during Robinson Jr.’s absence.
Gibson has been limited to 13 carries/45 rushing yards during that span. Rodriguez Jr. also accumulated more rushing attempts (10/9) and rushing yards (58/30) than Gibson when Washington visited the Jets in Week 16. Gibson was also limited to two targets in Week 16, which was his lowest total since Week 8.
Even if Gibson’s involvement as a receiving weapon rises in Week 17, the prospects of a restricted touch total while operating behind Rodriguez Jr. or Robinson Jr. should compel you to locate an alternative option from your waiver wire.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots - 90% Rostered
Rhamondre Stevenson Ruled Out For Week 16 https://t.co/GcHe2OKM6v
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 24, 2021
This is not a suggestion that Rhamondre Stevenson should be dropped immediately. However, his status should be monitored during the week as he contends with his problematic ankle. The rationale for removing him will rise if it appears that he will be unavailable when New England visits Buffalo in Week 17.
Stevenson has already been sidelined during New England’s last three matchups and was absent from practice leading up to the Patriots’ Week 16 matchup with Denver.
New England will not be participating in the postseason. That should diminish the likelihood that the Patriots will be compelled to insert the third-year back into their lineup, even if he is fully recovered from his ankle issue.
It is also improbable that Stevenson would operate with an extensive workload even if he does return in Week 17. If updates indicate that Stevenson will be relegated to spectator status once again, then you should replace him with another option from your waiver wire.
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