It’s the carnage among ball carriers in the NFL!
Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook and D’Andre Swift have recently fallen in battle. Week 13 is also a bye week for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, meaning Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and Aaron Jones will be inactive.
Here are seven running backs to target on waivers:
Alexander Mattison – Minnesota Vikings (Available in 48% of Yahoo! leagues)
Called to replace Cook in the backfield of the Vikings, Mattison must be the priority of all poolers looking for a running back. The third-year player has previously proven that he can get the job done with flying colors, as he was very productive in weeks three and five of the game, when Cook was forced out due to wounds.
Boston Scott – Philadelphia Eagles (Available in 80% of Yahoo! Leagues)
The Eagles rely heavily on the ground game and it’s hard to say who will get the ball in their backfield more often. Scott was favored last week, however, and he did well with 72 yards and a major. Considering he faces the weak New York Jets this Sunday, Scott becomes a fixture.
Jamaal Williams – Detroit Lions (Available in 59% of Yahoo! Leagues)
If Swift doesn’t recover from his shoulder injury, Williams will see his use increase dramatically against the Vikings. When the Lions No. 1 left the field last week, Williams got the ball 15 times and had 65 yards. He also caught all five passes sent his way for 18 yards.
Matt Breida – Buffalo Bills (Available in 77% of Yahoo! leagues)
Breida appears to have become the Bills’ No. 1 after serving as the club’s third running back for the vast majority of the season. Last Thursday against the New Orleans Saints, Zack Moss was left out and Devin Singletary was mostly used when the win was assured. The Bills’ schedule doesn’t favor Breida, but he deserves consideration by poolers in need.
Dontrell Hilliard – Tennessee Titans (Available in 71% of Yahoo! leagues)
Hilliard isn’t a short-term fix, as the Titans are on hiatus this week. The 26-year-old athlete will however have the ball a lot by the end of this campaign, he who seems to have become the first option of his training in the absence of Derrick Henry. Last Sunday, he amassed 131 yards and scored a touchdown. He is also a threat from the air, which makes him a prime target for poolers.
Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers (Available in 60% of Yahoo! Leagues)
As in the case of Hilliard, Hubbard will not play this week. However, he will be responsible for replacing McCaffrey for the rest of the campaign with the Panthers. In the absence of the star player earlier in the season, the fourth-round pick (126th overall) last draft carried the ball an average of more than 20 times per game.
Tony Pollard – Dallas Cowboys (Available in 17% of Yahoo! Leagues)
Pollard isn’t available in many leagues, but if he is in yours, you should definitely jump at the chance. The Cowboys reportedly intend to rest Ezekiel Elliott this week, which would mean the Dallas club’s second will have plenty of room against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday.
