The Week 15 waiver wire is surprisingly strong for this late in the season. There are multiple high-priority additions, depending on injury news. Here are a few potential RB targets for fantasy football managers on the wire this week.
Top RB Waiver Wire Targets in Week 15
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings (22% Rostered)
Alexander Mattison left the game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return. In his place, Ty Chandler operated as the lead back. He didn’t do much with his touches, but volume is king in fantasy football.
We’ve seen Chandler be explosive before. Perhaps in a better game environment, he could produce RB2 numbers. Either way, he needs to be added in the event Mattison misses a game or two.
FAAB Recommendation: All of it
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (6% Rostered)
This week’s top waiver wire pickup at the running back position is the Cincinnati Bengals’ new RB2. Chase Brown has been shot out of a cannon in the past two weeks. He carried the ball nine times for 61 yards last week and totaled 115 yards and a touchdown in Week 14.
More Waiver Wire Targets: QB | WR | TE
While still reliant on splash plays, Brown is seeing enough work to have RB3 value alongside Joe Mixon. Plus, he has a clear RB1 upside if Mixon were to go down. He is worth everything you have.
FAAB Recommendation: All of it
Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs (41% Rostered)
True to his word, Andy Reid did utilize Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the lead back. However, Jerick McKinnon remained the passing-down back, and that included just about every third down.
McKinnon only touched the ball seven times but was able to punch in a short touchdown. He was on the field much more than he had been when Isiah Pacheco was healthy. We don’t know how long Pacheco is out, but as long as he is, McKinnon will have value. He is worth picking up.
FAAB Recommendation: 10-20%
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders (2% Rostered)
Having a replacement-level RB1 on the Las Vegas Raiders isn’t the most exciting thing, but Zamir White is poised to be the lead back if Josh Jacobs has to miss any time.
Jacobs hurt his knee in the fourth quarter and did not return. Ameer Abdullah still played primarily on passing downs, but White was the lead runner. He would be a desperation-level RB3/Flex play if Jacobs can’t go.
FAAB Recommendation: 10-20%
D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears (38% Rostered)
Many fantasy managers dropped D’Onta Foreman after he got hurt, and Roschon Johnson played over 70% of the snaps in Week 13. However, with everyone fully healthy in the backfield, it looks as if Foreman is still the lead back for the Chicago Bears.
Foreman started against the Detroit Lions and totaled 72 yards on 13 touches. He was essentially a touchdown away from being an RB1. Starting running backs in the NFL need to be rostered, and Foreman is one of them.
FAAB Recommendation: 10-20%
Which RBs Should You Roster in Fantasy Football?
Should You Roster Chase Brown or Tyjae Spears?
For weeks, I’ve been banging the drum for Tyjae Spears as one of the top handcuffs with some standalone value. It appears as though Brown has taken up that mantle for himself.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Brown has no real chance to challenge Spears’ snap share. He’s not playing 50% of the snaps while Joe Mixon is healthy, regardless of the game script. But Brown is being used deliberately far earlier in the game and to a greater degree than Spears.
If these guys were starting, I would be excited about both of them. Given that Brown is on the better offense and has more standalone value, even if we assume they have the same contingent upside, I would rather roster Brown going forward.
Should You Roster D’Onta Foreman or Antonio Gibson?
This is a tough one to call. Foreman is the lead back for the Bears — that is a thing we know for sure right now — while Antonio Gibson might be the lead back for the Washington Commanders.
Brian Robinson Jr. strained his hamstring when the Commanders last played, and we haven’t heard any news on his recovery over the team’s Week 14 bye. It’s possible Robinson returns, relegating Gibson to his usual passing-down role.
If Robinson is out, then this is likely Gibson’s backfield, as he could see upwards of a 70% snap share. Foreman is likely capped out at 50-55% weekly. Plus, Johnson is the passing down back in Chicago.
If Robinson is back, then it gets murkier. Gibson still has a quality role, averaging about five targets per game over his last six contests. But he doesn’t have the goal-line role, and Foreman does, giving him a higher weekly ceiling.
We have until Tuesday night to make a decision here. If we don’t get any more information on Robinson, then I would lean toward Foreman. If we find out Robinson is unlikely to play this week, then go with Gibson.
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