Entering Week 12, 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 done away with FAAB recommendations this year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced it 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 12 Waiver Wire article, which covers a plethora of players from all positions.
Cam Akers, RB | MIN
Rostered: 17%
It’s very clear that Cam Akers has completely taken over the RB2 role in Minnesota. While he certainly can’t be expected to score every week, it’s quite encouraging to see him even get a goal-line look.
Akers handled 10 carries and saw two targets against the Tennessee Titans, but his main value is contingent upon an Aaron Jones injury. That, alone makes him worth stashing as the fantasy playoffs near.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Jaylen Warren, RB | PIT
Rostered: 53%
Slightly over the rostership threshold, I’m willing to make more allowances this late in the season to ensure fantasy managers are rostering the right players. Jaylen Warren played through a back injury against a very good Baltimore Ravens run defense and still managed 10.8 fantasy points in a low-scoring game.
Warren has now seen at least 12 opportunities in his last four games. He’s been efficient on the ground, averaging a hair under 4.5 yards per carry over that span.
The Pittsburgh Steelers face a very difficult slate of run defenses over the remainder of the season, which could result in more Warren and less Najee Harris. He’s at least an RB3 with injury contingent upside who needs to be on more rosters.
Aggressiveness Rating: 8.0
Ameer Abdullah, RB | LV
Rostered: 0%
The last thing I ever expected was to be talking about Ameer Abdullah in the year 2024. Yet, here we are.
The Las Vegas Raiders lost both Alexander Mattison and Zamir White to injuries on Sunday. That left them with just Abdullah.
If Mattison and White can’t go next week, Abdullah would be the presumptive lead running back. How effective he would be remains to be seen (likely not very), but every starting running back in the NFL is worth being on a fantasy roster.
Monitor what the updates are on Mattison and White’s statuses between now and Tuesday night. If we don’t hear anything, or what we hear is not positive, Abdullah is worth a claim.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Blake Corum, RB | LAR
Rostered: 15%
There is no scenario where Blake Corum will be startable as long as Williams is healthy. However, he’s the clear RB2, and I am supremely confident he would be just as good if not better than Williams should something happen to the starter.
We have just three weeks left in the fantasy regular season. You need to curate your rosters for the postseason. Stashing a guy like Corum, who could be a league winner if things break right, is a move some of you have the flexibility to make.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0