Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 15

We have now progressed into the second week of fantasy postseason matchups. Congratulations to those of you who navigated the numerous obstacles of this unique season. You have maintained your highest level of flexibility while persevering through injuries to critical players, disappointing performances, and COVID-related absences. Now this diligence has placed you on a pathway toward your league's championship.

This critical week provides the opportunity for you to focus on constructing lineups that will advance through the remainder of the playoffs. It is highly recommended that you examine all remaining matchups in both Weeks 15 and 16 for any backs that you are considering or are currently contained on your rosters. This maximizes your planning process by establishing which backs will encounter difficult matchups, and which runners have an opportunity to perform against vulnerable defensive units.

This article will help you with the difficult decisions that await you by locating the best running backs to target on your waiver wire. 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 in your Week 15 matchups.

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Frontrunners - Week 15 Waiver Wire Running Backs

These backs should be your top priorities among the options that are available on most waiver wires. Some will be more beneficial in PPR formats than standard. All players have 60% or less ownership in typical fantasy leagues.

Jeff Wilson, San Francisco 49ers

18% rostered

Wilson was sidelined from Weeks 8-11 with a knee injury. When he reemerged from injured reserve in Week 12 it did not create the same level of enthusiasm as the return of his teammate Raheem Mostert. But Wilson has attained a 43% snap share during his last three matchups while generating 118 yards and a touchdown on 30 attempts. That includes his performance in Week 13 when he averaged 6.7 yards per attempt.

Nothing fancy from the 49ers one yard out, Jeff Wilson Jr. punches it in and gives the #49ers a lead.

7-0 after Q1 pic.twitter.com/pGdssWJcyL

— KNBR (@KNBR) December 13, 2020

His snap share and workload have been comparable to Mostert’s, as the 49ers' lead back has accrued 150 rushing yards on 39 attempts while being involved on 44% of the team’s offensive snaps. Prior to his injury, Wilson had also exploded for 112 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries in Week 7, as he performed on a season-high 56% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps. Kyle Shanahan has demonstrated his confidence in distributing opportunities to Wilson and Mostert, while Jerick McKinnon and Tevin Coleman have been jettisoned from the fantasy radar.  Wilson’s ongoing involvement has elevated him among this week’s viable waiver wire options.

DeAndre Washington, Miami Dolphins

10% rostered

Myles Gaskin averaged 16.8 attempts and 60.2 yards per game from Weeks 3-8 after commandeering Miami’s lead back responsibilities. The second-year back was sidelined from Weeks 9-12 (knee) but recaptured his RB1 role in Week 13 while generating 90 yards on 21 attempts. But he was placed on the reserve/COVID 19 list, one day before Miami’s Week 14 matchup with Kansas City. This was a significant development for Miami, as Salvon Ahmed was dealing with a shoulder injury, and Matt Breida had joined Gaskin on the reserve/COVID-19.

All of which vaulted Washington into RB1 duties against the Chiefs. The fifth-year back led the Dolphins in touches (15) while accumulating 52 total yards. His production was unexceptional. But he could retain lead back responsibilities this week when Miami hosts New England. It will be important to monitor the status of Gaskin and Ahmed as the week progresses. But Washington’s capabilities as both a rusher and receiver improves his chances of remaining involved within Miami’s backfield rotation if Gaskin and Ahmed remain unavailable. That places him among this week’s targets on the waiver wire.

Lynn Bowden, Jr., Miami Dolphins

4% rostered 

If Bowden is available as a running back in your league, then he is an enticing player to target from this week’s waiver wire. He had performed on just 23 offensive snaps entering Week 12 and had only registered 10 touches prior to Week 14. But the rookie absorbed an expanded role during the Dolphins’ matchup with Kansas City. He should also have earned the opportunity to remain involved in Miami’s attack once again on Sunday.

On third down, the Chiefs bring the house. Tua Tagovailoa slings it and Bashaud Breeland could've brought Lynn Bowden Jr. down, but can't and gives up a first down. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/143CLn1yKE

— Mitchel Summers (@WIBWMitchel) December 13, 2020

He tied for the team lead with nine targets against the Chiefs, and led the Dolphins in both receptions (7), and receiving yards (82). His performance provided a boost to a depleted Miami offense, as he took advantage of his opportunities. This should provide the Dolphins’ offensive decision-makers with incentive to capitalize on his unique versatility by utilizing him during the team’s final three games. He is among the most appealing options in leagues where he retains running back eligibility and is worthy of pursuing in all other leagues.

In The Running - Week 15 Waiver Wire Running Backs

These backs remain available on the waiver wire but are not necessarily must-adds. 

Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

21% rostered

The principle of safeguarding backs that are essential to your lineups during the fantasy postseason remains intact – particularly if the insurance policy that you are considering has retained involvement in his team’s offense during the fantasy postseason. This increases the rationale for securing Pollard, due to the combination of his unquestioned talent, and the diminished numbers that have been delivered by the post-Dak Prescott version of Ezekiel Elliott.

Andy Dalton to Tony Pollard Touchdown #DALvsCIN pic.twitter.com/5xEJkJ2Ts8

— Dallas Cowboys Collaboration (@mailman_phil) December 13, 2020

Elliott's troublesome calf had also created uncertainty surrounding his ability to function with an extensive workload in Week 14. He ultimately carried 12 times and generated 48 rushing yards. However, he had been limited to 22 yards on nine attempts before he produced a 26-yard run in the fourth quarter. Pollard was allotted 13 touches while generating 48 total yards and a touchdown. He has also performed on 33.5% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps since Week 6. He is fully capable of delivering a highly productive outing if he receives a sizable workload, and that could still occur during the next two weeks. This has preserved Pollard's viability as a roster addition.

Duke Johnson, Houston Texans

58% rostered

Johnson registered 18 rushing attempts and generated rushing 54 yards from Weeks 1-7. He also collected 10 of his 13 targets and assembled 77 receiving yards during that span. He was elevated into RB1 duties during the Texans’ Week 9 matchup at Jacksonville when David Johnson suffered a concussion. Duke then averaged 12.3 attempts and generated 147 yards on the ground from Weeks 9-13, He also captured 10 of his 13 targets and amassed 95 yards as a pass-catcher during David’s extended absence.

DUUUUUUUUKE!

?: CBS
?: https://t.co/Nm64mQkAPf pic.twitter.com/qwWV2lV42X

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 13, 2020

David returned from a concussion in Week 13 to reclaim Houston’s lead back responsibilities. But he was promptly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which vaulted Duke Johnson into another expanded role in Week 14. Duke responded by producing 79 total yards on 10 touches against Chicago, which included a 45-reception. David’s recovery process should be monitored as the week progresses. If he remains unavailable, then Duke could be worthy of consideration as a roster addition - even if he shares touches with third-year back Buddy Howell during Sunday's matchup with Indianapolis. Johnson could present you with a favorable alternative to the flex options that are currently on your roster.

Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons

4% rostered

From Weeks 1-11, Smith only carried 13 times, manufactured 46 yards, and averaged a 14.3% snap share. But since Week 12, he has accumulated 143 yards on 31 attempts. That includes Atlanta's Week 14 matchup with the Chargers when Smith led the Falcons in rushing attempts at (11) and rushing yardage (42). Todd Gurley was restricted to six carries and could only manufacture 19 yards on the ground. This provided further confirmation that Gurley can only function with a minimal workload, and remains highly inefficient with the touches that he receives.

Since the Falcons returned from their Week 10 bye, Gurley has amassed just 61 yards on the ground, while being limited to 22 carries. He has also averaged just 2.7 yards per attempt during his last seven contests. Smith has also surpassed Brian Hill on the depth chart, as Hill has been relegated to 21 yards on six attempts since Week 13. Smith will have a difficult matchup with Tampa Bay on Sunday. But he should lead the Falcon backfield in touches once again.

Dark Horses - Week 15 Waiver Wire Running Backs 

This group consists of running backs that can be added if you are willing to wait for the possibility of a larger role during the year, or consider your situation to be desperate due to injuries.

James White, New England Patriots

60% rostered

It might be challenging to become passionate about any component within the Patriot offense in the aftermath of their horrific Week 14 performance in Los Angeles. New England's disastrous offensive outing impacted the team’s few viable fantasy options. This includes White, who was limited to four touches, and 18 total yards. But during a week in which there is a dearth of enticing new options on the waiver wire, it is wise to avoid an overreaction.

The fallout from New England’s nightmarish contest could be a renewed effort to involve the most reliable resources within a talent deficient unit. White was tied for sixth among all backs with 21 targets (4.2 per game) from Weeks 9-13 and was also sixth in receptions (16). Damien Harris encountered a shoulder issue against the Rams, and his Week 15 status is uncertain. Any potential absence for Harris would fuel a rising touch total for White. He remains available in 40% of all leagues if you are laboring to locate a flex option in the PPR format.

Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos

44% rostered

Lindsay has not generated sizable discussion in recent weeks. But the two-time 1,000-yard rusher has demonstrated the ability to assemble favorable yardage totals at various times of the season - even though they have been interspersed with injuries and sequences of moderate production. He returned from a toe injury to establish season highs in rushing attempts (23) and rushing yards (101) in Week 6 and was second only to Derrick Henry among all running backs with 262 yards on 38 attempts (6.9 per attempt) from Weeks 6-8. He also bolted for 82 yards on 16 attempts in Week 11, before his efficiency was impacted by a knee issue in Weeks 12-13.

Melvin Gordon’s status as the Broncos’  RB1 has been unchallenged throughout the season. But Lindsay has provided sufficient evidence that he can perform effectively when healthy. He has also averaged 12.5 carries per game since Week 11 and is only rostered in 44% of all leagues. That presents managers in deeper leagues with a flex option.

Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers

61% rostered

This week’s waiver wire does not present an array of compelling options. But it is important to scrutinize every potential addition as you pursue your leagues’ championships. That includes Williams, who has become available in nearly 40% of all leagues, The fifth-year back was allotted a double-digit touch total in Week 14 and has displayed his ability to deliver favorable numbers when he has been entrusted with a sizable workload.

This includes his performances in Weeks 7-8 when Aaron Jones was sidelined with a calf issue. Williams finished at RB4 in scoring during that sequence, was fourth in rushing attempts (35), and fifth in rushing yardage (152). Williams’ production during Jones' absence provided a reminder that he has emerged as a viable insurance policy His usage also places him on the periphery of standalone territory. If Jone is on your roster,  you also have the option of protecting your investment by seizing Williams this week.

Also-Rans - Time To Say Goodbye

These backs can be dropped in order to secure a running back with greater potential to bolster your scoring during the year.

Darrell Henderson/Malcolm Brown, Los Angeles Rams

Henderson 73% rostered / Brown 18% rostered

The ever-evolving touch distribution within LA’s backfield had fueled fluctuations in usage for Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, and Malcolm Brown throughout the season. This forced anyone who had invested in Akers during their draft process to endure an excruciating wait as Henderson led the Rams in attempts (95/11.9 per game) and rushing yardage (458/57.3 per game) from Weeks 1-9. Brown was also averaging 9.4 attempts during that span.

But Akers was steadily seizing control of LA’s lead back responsibilities from Weeks 10-13 when he accumulated 209 yards on 45 attempts. He will not be relinquishing RB1 duties anytime soon after stockpiling 31 touches and ripping the Patriots for 194 total yards in Week 14. That has eviscerated the value of both Henderson and Brown, as Henderson has been limited to five carries during his last two matchups. Brown was relegated to three carries in three consecutive games (Weeks 11-13) and did not have a touch in Week 14. There is no longer any motivation for managers to start Henderson or Brown, and both displaced backs can be removed from all rosters.

Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens

40% rostered

Ingram has averaged 4.5 attempts per game since Week 6 and has manufactured a grand total of 55 rushing yards since mid-October. That should squelch any doubt regarding his viability as a starting option. Ingram has also been limited to a 16.8% snap share since Week 6. J.K. Dobbins has averaged 52.1% during that sequence, including two contests in which his percentage has reached 63%. Gus Edwards has also performed on 34.4% of the Ravens’ offensive snaps during that span.

This underscores the degree to which Ingram’s role has been reduced below Dobbins and Edwards within Baltimore’s backfield rotation. There is enormous rationale to compel anyone who has failed to eliminate Ingram from their rosters to finally secure another player who can boost their scoring. But even though the clear decline in Ingram’s usage has been evident since November, the numbers have not deterred managers in 40% of all leagues from retaining Ingram on their rosters. It is time to remove him this week.

Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals

67% rostered

Joe Mixon remains on injured reserve and the likelihood of experiencing another Mixon sighting this season is dwindling with each passing day. But even if Mixon does reemerge during the fantasy postseason, the season-ending knee injury that abruptly ended Joe Burrow’s season has dramatically impacted the effectiveness of Cincinnati’s offense. This has collapsed the statistical ceilings for all Bengals,  including components within Cincinnati’s backfield.

Mixon remains on injured reserve (foot) and has not performed since Week 6. During his absence, Bernard had accumulated 65 attempts (10.8 per game), and produced 209 yards (34.8 per game/3.2 per attempt) on the ground from Weeks 7-13, and was also eighth among all backs in targets (26/4.3 per game). But he was also limited to six touches and 23 total yards in Week 14 as Trayveon Williams and Samaje Perine combined for 27 touches and 104 total yards. There is no guarantee that Bernard will retain a respectable touch total if Mixon remains sidelined. This diminishes any incentive for you to rely on Bernard during your remaining matchups.

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