The second full Sunday of the fantasy football season is officially in the books. It’s now time to improve our rosters.
We recently broke down the top Week 3 waiver-wire targets that fantasy managers should consider adding. But if you’re only interested in the top available running backs, we’ve got you covered.
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
If you are finding yourself a bit confused on what to make of Braelon Allen’s 19.6 fantasy points in Week 2 — where he registered two TDs and 56 total yards on just nine touches — then take some comfort you aren’t alone.
Allen’s jump in usage from Week 1 to Week 2 is certainly noteworthy.
Braelon Allen 2024 Weekly Stats
- Week 1: 18% snap share, two touches for 17 yards
- Week 2: 35% snap share, nine touches for 56 yards and 2 TDs
Can fantasy managers expect Allen to get Breece Hall off the field this much moving forward? I don’t believe so, but I do think this now needs to be monitored when trying to set weekly expectations for this Jets backfield moving forward.
Hall still saw 21 total touches for 114 yards and a score in Week 2, which means he still more than doubled Allen’s total in the touches and yardage production department.
While Allen’s performance in Week 2 was outstanding, I’m not ready to suggest he should be in your starting lineup with stand-alone value quite yet. But he is certainly now in the conversation for the best fantasy handcuff in the league.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Fantasy managers got a bit too frustrated with Chuba Hubbard a bit too quickly. Yes, this is the second-worst offense in football (no one is worse than the Bo Nix-led Broncos). Yes, Bryce Young is not making it through the season as the starter. But Hubbard is still a starting running back in the NFL.
MORE: Fantasy Football Buy Low, Sell High Targets After Week 2
Hubbard is not about to blow anyone away with production, but he can volume his way to RB3 numbers.
Hubbard played 58% of the snaps and was clearly ahead of Miles Sanders. Hubbard carried the ball 10 times for a very respectable 64 yards, while adding four receptions for 12 yards. Given all of the injuries and with bye weeks coming up, that’s serviceable production.
Antonio Gibson, RB, New England Patriots
The Patriots’ offense is not terrible. Specifically, their run game is doing things through the first two weeks.
Rhamondre Stevenson was a bellcow in Week 1, but that was largely because Antonio Gibson wasn’t healthy. He looked healthy in Week 2, carrying the ball 11 times for 96 yards.
Gibson probably won’t be startable every week alongside Stevenson, but, at bare minimum, he’s the handcuff, and he should be on more rosters.
Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Jones is the clear RB1 for the Vikings. However, Ty Chandler is the clear RB2. Jones reminded everyone of his age and fragility when he left the game against the 49ers. Although he ultimately returned, Chandler is one 29-year-old starter injury away from being the lead back in what is a pretty good offense.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The efficiency issues fantasy managers have seen from Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Rachaad White continued against a stingy Detroit Lions front seven in Week 2, but the starting running back picked up a groin injury that will need to be monitored very closely entering their Week 3 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
The numbers are pretty concerning for White through the first two games. He has 35 fewer rushing yards on nine more carries than Irving and could be hampered even more while battling through a soft tissue injury.
Irving has provided a small spark to this offense in a complementary role through two weeks but is fully capable of contributing in the passing game should his role expand against a Broncos defense that gave up 111 rushing yards to Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on Sunday.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
Samaje Perine, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
This was a late addition to the waiver wire column. Samaje Perine barely saw the field in the Chiefs’ last-second win over the Bengals. But on that final drive, Isiah Pacheco got twisted awkwardly on a tackle and limped off the field.
It was revealed on Monday that Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula, and he’s expected to “miss real time,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
With Pacheco sidelined, Perine will obviously play more. However, I’m not sure he will see enough work to be usable in fantasy. Plus, Carson Steele will likely be the goal-line back. This has all the makings of an undesirable committee without Pacheco. Nevertheless, Perine is worth a claim given the severity of Pacheco’s injury.
Carson Steele, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
The injury to Isiah Pacheco certainly opens up a sizeable role in the Kansas City Chiefs’ backfield, which should catch your attention as a fantasy football manager.
One could certainly make a case that Samaje Perine is in this waiver wire conversation here, which is fine. But I’m willing to bank on Steele’s usage as a ball carrier in Week 2 as the priority add in KC.
Steele saw seven carries to Perine’s zero against the Cincinnati Bengals, which is why I’m giving him the edge as a player who could be an effective short-yardage carrier with his physical running style when the Chiefs inevitably generate trips to the goal line.
Perine could certainly be involved in passing down situations, which gives him some intrigue in full-PPR formats, but I want to target the player who has been the preferred ball carrier option through the first two weeks of the season.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst
