The bye weeks are over, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t upgrades available on the waiver wire. And for anyone looking to get a boost at the running back position, good news! There are a few options available, including a new starting running back and a pass-catching back that are sure to be productive in any scoring system.
Josh Adams, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (Available in 34 percent of fantasy leagues).
The running back situation in Philadelphia is gaining some clarity. Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement and Adams were all getting a chance with the football, but according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Eagles are planning to feature Adams, an undrafted free agent, as their starter going forward. He’s earned it. Heading into Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, he led the team in yards per carry after contact. He then finished Week 12 with 22 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Gus Edwards, RB, (50 percent).
Edwards rushed for 115 yards against the in Week 11 and then 118 rushing yards on Sunday against the . Edwards was supposed to be a short-term fill-in for injured starter Alex Collins, but the rookie rusher has shown himself to be more elusive (10 broken tackles) and more explosive (four runs of 15 yards or more) than any of the Ravens’ options at the position.
Bills defense and special teams (48 percent).
Buffalo, led by defensive end Jerry Hughes (50 total pressures with 19 stops at or behind the line of scrimmage), has the sixth-best pass rushing unit, according to Pro Football Focus. Also worth noting: The Bills play the (22nd most efficient offense, per Football Outsiders) and (30th) in the last two weeks of most fantasy football seasons and the (19th, however, they could be without running back Kerryon Johnson) in the first game of the fantasy playoffs.
(63 percent) and (82 percent), RB, Detroit Lions.
The Lions lost running back Kerryon Johnson to a knee sprain the previous Sunday against the , and it is possible he misses a few weeks, giving backups Riddick and Blount more opportunities with the football.
Blount is likely to get more of the load — he had 19 in relief of Johnson last week for 88 yards and two touchdowns — while Riddick will be targeted out of the backfield, where he produces 1.5 yards per route run.
Broncos defense and special teams (60 percent).
Denver had the third best run-stopping unit, the eighth best pass rush and the 13th best secondary heading into its Week 12 game against the , per Pro Football Focus. Its opponent in Week 13 is the Cincinnati Bengals, who, with quarterback under center, have the 11th best passing offense. Unfortunately, Dalton suffered a thumb injury in the second half Sunday and did not return to the game. If Dalton can’t go in Week 13, look for the Broncos defense to harass backup Jeff Driskel, who has 36 career passing attempts in the NFL.
David Njoku, TE, (33 percent).
Njoku is a boom-or-bust-type player. On Sunday, he was targeted five times for 63 yards and a touchdown, and in Week 13, he and the Browns will play against the , a team that ranks 28th out of 32 teams at preventing tight ends from catching the ball, per Football Outsiders.
Josh Doctson, WR, (84 percent).
Backup quarterback targeted Doctson a season-high 10 times on Thursday, resulting in 66 yards. Doctson only has two touchdowns this season, yet the added volume is a positive sign he could be a larger part of the offense for the last few weeks of the season.
, WR, New York Jets (96 percent).
Kearse isn’t a fantasy stud — he had just 24 receptions for 231 yards in nine games played heading into Week 12 — but he did get 12 targets and his first touchdown of the season against the , who have the second best pass coverage unit in the NFL this year, per Pro Football focus. And Kearse gets to try again next week against the , the 13th best secondary.
Dante Pettis, WR, San Francisco 49ers (96 percent).
The 2018 second-round draft pick caught 4 of 7 targets against four different defenders for 77 yards, plus a touchdown, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and could see a steady diet of targets with out with an injury.