Entering Week 13, let’s take a look at the top running backs to target on the waiver wire in your fantasy football league. All players listed below are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo, ESPN, and/or Sleeper leagues.
Note that I have eliminated FAAB recommendations this year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced them with my opinion on how aggressive fantasy managers should be in pursuing the player on a scale of 1-10.
Looking for other positions? Check out our Week 13 Waiver Wire article, which covers a plethora of players from all positions.
Cam Akers, RB, | MIN
Rostered: 24%
One week after handling 12 touches, Cam Akers reverted to pure backup. He only saw four opportunities against the Bears, totaling 25 yards.
Any hopes of Akers carving out standalone value have been put to rest. However, he does still have handcuff value. If Aaron Jones were to go down, Akers would be a weekly RB3, at worst. He’s worth stashing, especially if you’re locked into a playoff spot.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Roschon Johnson, RB | CHI
Rostered: 29%
One of the changes made since the Bears dismissed OC Shane Waldron was to install Roschon Johnson as the goal-line back. Although he punched in a short touchdown for the second consecutive week, Johnson isn’t touching the ball anywhere near enough to be startable. He totaled 12 yards on three opportunities against the Vikings.
Even so, Johnson still has value as the presumptive handcuff to D’Andre Swift. With the fantasy playoffs looming, you want to stash upside players. Johnson has RB3 upside if Swift were to go down.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Ameer Abdullah, RB | LV
Rostered: 24%
With Zamir White and Alexander Mattison both hurt, Ameer Abdullah projected to be a volume-based “won’t get you zero” RB3. Instead, he posted RB1 numbers.
Abdullah ran the ball eight times for 28 yards, while catching five balls for 37 yards and a touchdown. Clearly, he is startable while the other two guys are out.
Ameer Abdullah! What a catch for the @Raiders TD!
📺: #DENvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/AvxOSvAMMV— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
Neither White nor Mattison’s injuries appear overly serious. At this point, we do not know their Week 13 statuses. But if we don’t hear anything positive by Tuesday night, Abdullah needs to be added.
Aggressiveness Rating: 7.5
Jaylen Warren, RB | PIT
Rostered: 59%
Jaylen Warren is rostered in a bit too many leagues. Yet, it’s nowhere near enough. This is a very talented player who is in a timeshare on a team that wants to run the ball.
Warren ran in his first touchdown of the season on Thursday night, which is very encouraging, considering that job typically belongs to Najee Harris.
With the Steelers staring down the barrel of a very difficult remaining schedule of run defenses, we could see a bit more Warren than Harris managers would prefer. If Warren is still out there in your league, go get him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 8.0