Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers and Values - Running Backs (RB)

Alexander Mattison (RB, MIN) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 61% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Running backs who are rostered in at least 60% of current leagues are normally excluded from these WW posts. However, there are occasional exceptions when it is beneficial to include a back with expanding availability. This applies to Mattison, whose percentage has... Read More

Kenneth Gainwell (RB, PHI) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 48% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Gainwell became the featured recommendation during last week’s waiver wire column, in anticipation of his expanded involvement in Philadelphia’s increasingly potent attack. His Week 1 workload was not mammoth, although he has secured a role within the Eagles’ backfield. Gainwell accumulated seven... Read More

Rachaad White (RB, TB) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 37% of Leagues ANALYSIS: White was the fourth running back to be selected during last April’s NFL draft when Tampa Bay selected him in Round 3. This placed him in a Buccaneer backfield that is utilizing Leonard Fournette as the primary back. However, White has quickly... Read More

Isiah Pacheco (RB, KC) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 30% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Pacheco accumulated 563 rushing attempts (13.1 per game) and 2,442 yards (56.8 per game), during his career at Rutgers, while also collecting 47 receptions (1.1 per game) and generating 249 yards (5.8 per game) as a receiver. He later became the 24th... Read More

Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB, SF) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 16% of Leagues ANALYSIS: San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell suffered a knee injury on Sunday and is expected to miss two months. With how much the 49ers run, this presents a pretty big opening for snaps for someone. Who will that someone be? Probably Jeff... Read More

Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 4% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Heading into the 2022 season, the Steelers backfield belonged to Najee Harris. But after one week, things have changed. Harris suffered a foot injury against the Bengals on Sunday, leaving the game and not returning. It sounds like Harris could be back this... Read More

Jamaal Williams (RB, DET) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 47% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Two players from the Detroit Lions finished Week 1 inside the top-12 at their respective position: WR Amon-Ra St-Brown and RB D'Andre Swift (top-3 pending MNF). So, what makes Jamaal Williams so appealing as to have him featured in the WW weekly... Read More

Khalil Herbert (RB, CHI) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 41% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Whether this game was a fluke or not, you'd be smart adding Khalil Herbert to your roster before other fantasy GMs catch up and you miss on the opportunity. The consensus opinion is and has always been that of David Montgomery being... Read More

Zack Moss (RB, BUF) - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 2

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of Leagues ANALYSIS: I have to assume when the Bills drafted James Cook with a second-round pick they definitely did not envision what happened to the rookie in his first game--actually first snap--as a pro: one snap played, one fumbled, and just one more snap... Read More

J.D. McKissic (RB, WAS) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~140 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~154 ANALYSIS: McKissic was so close to being a Buffalo Bill in 2022, but the Washington Commanders plucked him right from the hands of Bills general manager Brandon Beane. It's clear they value McKissic's contributions on the football field or they would have just let him walk... Read More

Nyheim Hines (RB, IND) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~115 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~124 ANALYSIS: In 2020, the Indianapolis Colts signed veteran QB Philip Rivers to run their offense. In that one season, Rivers targeted his running backs 25% of the time, with Nyheim Hines earning himself a 14.2% target share. This was the second-highest target share on the team,... Read More

Melvin Gordon (RB, WAS) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~90 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~98 ANALYSIS: After two productive seasons in Denver, Melvin Gordon III signed a one-year, $4 million deal to remain with the Broncos in 2022. The difference between this season and the two previous ones is that Gordon is likely to play more of a 1B role. It'll... Read More

Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, NE) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~70 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~87 ANALYSIS: Stevenson has been getting some sneaky hype from the fantasy community all off-season, but is he still being under-drafted? Once James White retired, the idea of a big-bodied back like Stevenson taking that role had fantasy managers salivating. Unfortunately, without Mike McDaniel, we may have... Read More

Jamaal Williams (RB, DET) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~125 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~142 ANALYSIS: Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams has made a career out of being the second half of the coveted one-two punch that offensive coordinators love to deploy. During his time in Green Bay, he played behind Aaron Jones, contributing on a per-game basis and as the starter when... Read More

Saquon Barkley (RB, NYG) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~9 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~17 ANALYSIS: Barkley is now two years removed from his ACL tear and free of Joe Judge and Jason Garrett. Sure, he has disappointed the past two seasons. However, he is still 25 years old, playing for a new contract, in a better offensive scheme, and running... Read More

Eli Mitchell (RB, SF) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~40 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~47 ANALYSIS: San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell had a stunningly productive season as a rookie in 2021. As a sixth-round draft choice, few expected Mitchell to become a fantasy starter, yet he finished as the RB23 in standard leagues despite playing just 11 games. This... Read More

Antonio Gibson (RB, WAS) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~55 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~68 ANALYSIS: Editor's Note: Since this post was published, Robinson sustained two gunshot wounds in an armed robbery attempt. Fortunately, he was released from the hospital on Monday. However, he will miss some time to begin the regular season, opening the door for Gibson to be the primary... Read More

Rashaad Penny (RB, SEA) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~63 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~79 ANALYSIS: Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny finally broke out in 2021 after dealing with injuries and inconsistencies during his first three seasons. He set career-highs in rushing yards (749 yards), attempts (119), and touchdowns (six). The former first-round pick added six catches for 48 receiving yards over... Read More

Zamir White (RB, LV) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~154 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~169 ANALYSIS:Out with the old, in with the new. That's the philosophy in Vegas as new coach Josh McDaniels takes over. In the same vein as his mentor, Bill Belichick, McDaniels views running backs as disposable. That's why they declined Josh Jacobs' fifth-year option, essentially making him... Read More

Rachaad White (RB, TB) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~115 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~128 ANALYSIS: No Gronk, gimpy Godwin, dusty Julio, and three banged-up offensive linemen. That's the state of the Bucs' offense heading into 2022. Leonard Fournette seems to have gotten himself into shape, at least some sort of shape, but he won't take 100% of the team's touches.... Read More

AJ Dillon (RB, GB) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~45 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~53 ANALYSIS: Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon entered last season as a high-end backup with upside but proved he's even more valuable than that. He finished as the RB21, rushing 187 times for 803 yards and five touchdowns, adding 34 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns... Read More

Breece Hall (RB, NYJ): 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~28 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~38 ANALYSIS: Draft capital speaks volumes. As well as Carter played as a rookie, at the end of the day, he was a fourth-round pick and those players are always at risk of being upgraded. We know Hall is going to handle the vast majority of early-down... Read More

Leonard Fournette (RB, TB) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~20 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~25 ANALYSIS: There's no good explanation for why Fournette is going outside the top-12 running backs right now. He got off to a slow start last season, but that was out of his control. He didn't truly take the reigns of the backfield until Week 4 when... Read More

Chase Edmonds (RB, MIA) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~65 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~84 ANALYSIS: If you're looking to try a Zero-RB strategy in 2022, Edmonds needs to be on your draft board. He's another running back who fits the more prototypical Zero-RB target we want to target because of his role in the passing game. The Dolphins made Edmonds... Read More

Kenneth Gainwell (RB, PHI) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~110 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~122 ANALYSIS: Kenneth Gainwell was a trending late-round sleeper going into drafts last year. After being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft, he appeared to be positioned to operate as the Eagles' No. 2 back behind Miles Sanders. Unfortunately for Gainwell, Boston Scott... Read More

Tony Pollard (RB, DAL) - 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Values

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~70 Overall CURRENT ADP: ~79 ANALYSIS: Make no mistake about it, Tony Pollard is Ezekiel Elliott's backup. That's been clear the past three seasons. The Cowboys continue to be hamstrung by Zeke's six-year, $90M contract extension signed back in 2019 and are essentially forced to give him most of the touches.... Read More

Jaret Patterson (RB, WAS): Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED: 25% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Jaret Patterson's rookie season started taking an exciting upturn out of necessity from the Washington Football Team, and with Antonio Gibson's most recent absence, the Buffalo alumnus was presented with his biggest opportunity of the year. Between weeks eight and sixteen, Patterson collected... Read More

Dare Ogunbowale (RB, JAX) - Fantasy Football Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 34% of Leagues ANALYSIS: We already recommended targeting Dare Ogunbowale last week as a fantastic WW addition, and that isn't going to change getting into the last week of the season. Of course, this play wouldn't have been possible without James Robinson getting done for the... Read More

Boston Scott (RB, PHI) - Fantasy Football Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 31% of Leagues ANALYSIS: For the number of times Boston Scott is out there at the time of the snap--not many--it's rather impressive how productive the tailback has been all season long. That shouldn't change in the last week of the year, and although Scott comes... Read More

Chuba Hubbard (RB, CAR) - Fantasy Football Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 58% of Leagues ANALYSIS: After a few weeks of disappointments for those banking on Chuba Hubbard, the backup tailback finally showed his ceiling for a lowly Panthers squad that went on to lose another one to the Saints this past weekend. Not that the loss or... Read More

Dontrell Hilliard (RB, TEN) - Fantasy Football Week 18 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 28% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Titans have already clinched the AFC South division title, and that might mean they rest some bodies to keep them warm entering the postseason in a couple of weeks. That could mean that now-leading back D'Onta Foreman might lose some snaps... Read More

Jaret Patterson (RB, WFT) - Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Leagues ROSTERED IN: 14% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Patterson’s involvement within Washington’s backfield rotation had already been rising due to multiple health issues that had impacted Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. Now, Gibson’s placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list has cleared the runway for Patterson to vault atop the Football Team’s depth... Read More

Dare Ogunbowale (RB, JAX) - Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It took 16 weeks and a very long time, but the moment you all had been waiting for has arrived: we have another RB1-injury to take advantage of... just in time for Championship Weekend! Will you be the brave fantasy GM to roster... Read More

Rex Burkhead (RB, HOU) - Fantasy Football Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of Leagues ANALYSIS: If something is clear in Houston, that is Rex Burkhead's role becoming more prominent each of the few past weeks: the rusher has gone from playing 24 snaps to log 35, 38, and lastly 42 in consecutive weeks from W13 through last Sunday.... Read More

Ronald Jones II (RB, TB) - Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 38% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Well, it looks like Ronald Jones II is going to get his chance... again. Leonard Fournette has had an incredible season, but unfortunately is dealing with an injury that will likely keep him out for several weeks. After leaving last week's game with... Read More

Craig Reynolds (RB, DET) - Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The NFL is an unpredictable sport, and fantasy football is an unpredictable game. Exhibit A is Craig Reynolds, who has pretty much come out of nowhere to become a relevant running back for the Lions and fantasy managers. For the 2nd week... Read More

Justin Jackson (RB, LAC) - Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 8% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Last week Austin Ekeler was dealing with an injury, so Justin Jackson received more touches than usual in the Thursday Night game against the Chiefs, racking up 13 carries for 86 yards. Firmly established as the number two running back on the Chargers,... Read More

Duke Johnson (RB, MIA) - Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 1% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Before this week-long slate of games, we had only saw Duke Johnson once playing for Miami--or anyone, actually. He did so back on Week 11 when he logged a ridiculously laughable six snaps for 1.8 PPR points against the Jets... and that's it... Read More

Brandon Bolden (RB, NE) - Fantasy Football Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues ROSTERED IN: 16% of Leagues ANALYSIS: If you're still alive in whatever fantasy league you play at, and if you're still fighting for the championship, and most of all if you're looking into adding someone from the waiver wire, you better know it's slim picks these days around these... Read More

Rashaad Penny (RB, SEA) - Fantasy Football Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 22% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Seahawks added living legend Adrian Peterson to the fold in time for Week 13, but the veteran could only feature on a low 16 snaps and then proceeded to miss Week 14 entirely while recovering from injury. Penny, who played 29... Read More

Rashaad Penny (RB, SEA) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 13% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Seahawks backfield and running game has been struggling ever since Chris Carson went down this year. Alex Collins hasn't been able to show much with his opportunities to be the lead running back, and the Seahawks even went out and signed... Read More

Ameer Abdullah (RB, CAR) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues ROSTERED IN: 11% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It's been another heartbreaking year for Panthers fans, and of course those who drafted Christian McCaffrey for their fantasy teams. The stud running back can't seem to stay healthy these days, and Week 14 will be the first game for the... Read More

Ty Johnson (RB, NYJ) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 25% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Jets are dealing with a variety of injuries on offense, especially at the running back position. Rookie Michael Carter is already on IR, and now Tevin Coleman has been ruled out for the Week 14 game due to a concussion. Add... Read More

Samaje Perine (RB, CIN) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 20% of Leagues ANALYSIS: There has been a lot of speculation about Joe Mixon this week, and whether he will suit up and play in Week 14. As of Saturday, he has not yet practiced. All week he had been dealing with a neck injury, and... Read More

Jermar Jefferson (RB, DET) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 10% of Leagues ANALYSIS: The Detroit Lions continue to get thinner at offense, and more specifically at the running back position. Stud running back D'Andre Swift will be out this week yet again, as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury. Earlier today is was... Read More

Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB, SF) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues ROSTERED IN: 36% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Elijah Mitchell was injured in Week 13, and had been listed as questionable all week. Earlier today he was officially ruled out. Jeff Wilson Jr. has also been dealing with an injury all week long, and was listed as questionable throughout the week:... Read More

Jalen Guyton (WR, LAC) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues ROSTERED IN: 15% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were placed on the COVID-19 list this week, aka the two starting wide receivers for the Chargers. While Williams is expected to play, Allen has officially been ruled out: #chargers Keenan Allen OUT for Sunday—... Read More

Dontrell Hilliard (RB, TEN) - Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 28% of Leagues ANALYSIS: If we know anything about Tennessee, then those two things are that 1) the Titans are coming off their Bye week this weekend and 2) Derrick Henry isn't coming back any time soon. That means that current RB1 Dontrell Hilliard will 1)... Read More

Kene Nwangwu (RB, MIN) - Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 16+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 0% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Tests revealed another torn labrum for Dalvin Cook and it appears he will be unavailable for the next few weeks, and even potentially into the fantasy playoffs. Alexander Mattison should be universally rostered by midweek if he isn't already, but who is the... Read More

Chuba Hubbard (RB, CAR) - Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Leagues ROSTERED IN: 36% of Leagues ANALYSIS: We can spend all offseason arguing about whether Christian McCaffrey is made of glass or if the Panthers are being too cautious with their franchise back but for now, fantasy GMs have to face the prospect of replacing him again. CMC was put on the... Read More