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RotoBaller Uncle Leo breaks down some fantasy football running backs (RBs) for the Week 13 waiver wire. Check out our waiver wire pickups every week.
There are lots of running back injuries and updates to discuss this week, as we prepare for the Week 13 waiver wire and fantasy homestretch. Below we'll take a look at some players that are still underowned, some that are being overlooked, and others that may hold RB value for fantasy owners due to injuries or team circumstances.
Waiver Wire Pickups – Week 13 Running Backs
Montee Ball - RB, Denver Broncos - 49% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 7 carries, 40 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 1 fumble lost - 6.70 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Knowshon Moreno had a ridiculous game on Sunday, as we watched him gash the New England defense all night long. But after such a heavy workload, Moreno wound up with a lower leg injury and is now sporting crutches. So far his injury has been diagnosed as a deep bone bruise, which is good news as it looks like he won't be out too long. This will open up an opportunity for Ball to assume the lead RB duties for the Broncos this week, as Moreno will almost definitely miss the game. The Broncos once again face KC's fierce defense, so expectations should be tempered with Ball. He also fumbled on Sunday, again, so the coaches may be hesitant to feed him the pigskin all night. But either way, Ball is one of the top priority Week 13 running backs to be picked up off the waiver wire if he's still available in your league.
Benny Cunningham - RB, St. Louis Rams - 3% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 13 carries, 109 rushing yards, 1 TD - 16.90 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: With Zac Stacy going down with an injury on Sunday, Cunningham replaced him as the workhorse RB for the Rams and did not disappoint. The Rams running game is clicking these days, which has been music to the ears of fantasy owners. Cunningham showed that if Stacy needs to miss anymore time that he can carry the RB load for St. Louis. As of now there is no word on Stacy's injury status which makes Cunnigham a priority waiver wire pickup for Week 13 running backs, especially if you are a Stacy owner. Be sure to target him on the waiver wire this week, as its looking like Stacy may not be suiting up on Sunday.
Bobby Rainey - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 66% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 18 carries, 35 rushing yards - 3.50 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Rainey didn't have the greatest game this week, and has a tough matchup with Carolina in Week 13, but he is still underowned. Yes I know, 66% is pretty well owned. Well it's still not enough for someone who put up almost 40 points in PPR leagues a week ago. Rainey is going to be the lead running back going forward for the rest of this season in an offense that looks much improved with Rookie QB Mike Glennon under center. Rainey will see plenty of volume down the fantasy stretch, as long as the Bucs aren't getting blown out, and should be owned in all leagues regardless of format. If Rainey is still available on your Week 13 waiver wire, pick him up immediately.
Chris Ogbonnaya - RB, Cleveland Browns - 30% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 4 carries, 26 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 1 fumble lost - 4.10 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: While Ogbonnaya didn't have a great fantasy week, the Cleveland coaches showed he is still their lead running back. And this is always an important factor in fantasy. Ogbonnaya catches a lot of passes out of the backfield, and also gets plenty of rushing attempts as long as the Browns aren't getting blown out. Either way, Ogbannaya will be in the game and have an opportunity to produce for fantasy owners. If he's still available in your league, Ogbonnaya should be added to your team and is a sneaky Week 13 running back option that's sitting on a lot of waiver wires. Those in PPR leagues should be especially interested.
Bilal Powell - RB, New York Jets - 39% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 11 carries, 41 rushing yards, 3 receptions - 9.50 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Chris Ivory injured his ankle in Sunday's game against the Ravens, but was able to stay in the game and tough it out. With the Jets playing from behind (a common theme these days), and Ivory not at full strength, the Jets gave Powell more work as their running back and he performed well. No word yet on the severity of the Ivory injury, but either way Powell is a decent RB pickup for Week 13 - especially those in PPR leagues.
Brandon Bolden - RB, New England Patriots - 6% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 11 carries, 58 rushing yards, 1 TD, 1 reception - 13.90 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Bolden did a pretty decent job earlier in the season filling in as the third-down back for an injured Shane Vereen. With the return of Vereen, and Ridley running well, Bolden was a forgotten man in New England. But Ridley was back at it this week with his fumbling issues, and LeGarrette Blount added in a fumble of his own. This left Bolden and Vereen as the only 2 remaining RBs not in the doghouse, and Bolden played well. A timeshare is expected going forward between Ridley, Blount and Bolden - but Bolden holds the most upside, especially in PPR leagues, because he catches passes out of the backfield. He can be stashed in all leagues, and should be a top priority RB waiver wire pickup in Week 13 for Ridley owners.
Donald Brown - RB, Indianapolis Colts - 41% owned in Yahoo leagues
This Week: 2 carries, 1 rushing yard, 1 reception - 0.90 points (PPR leagues)
Analysis: Brown did not have a great game this week, but the Colts were getting blown out for most of the game and never really had a chance to establish a ground attack with their RBs. The Indianapolis coaches have said that they want to continue splitting the running back workload between an ineffective Trent Richardson and the clearly more explosive Donald Brown. While this isn't great news for Brown's fantasy prospects, he is still underowned and can be scooped up as a solid RB pickup off the Week 13 waiver wire. If Richardson goes down, or the coaches ride the hot hand, Brown can make for a decent flex play going forward.
