Week 5 Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Adds: Woody Marks, Kenneth Gainwell and More

We are back for another week of the top running back pickups for fantasy football. This week, there is one obvious name at the top, as Texans rookie back Woody Marks broke out with a massive 25.9 half-PPR point performance. 

After Marks, however, things get murkier. There are definitely interesting names, but most of them are long-term stashes or primarily deep-league options. Still, they're all worth breaking down, so let's get right into it.

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Woody Marks, Houston Texans (31.7% Rostered)

Hopefully, you read last week's article and took my advice to add Marks in all formats heading into Week 4. If not, I hope you have the FAAB or waiver priority necessary to fix that mistake this week. 

Even if he hadn't exploded with excellent fantasy production, Marks' usage this week would have made him a must-add. The fourth-round rookie played 59% of the Texans' snaps, recording 17 carries and five targets on a 44% route participation rate. All of those numbers were easily more than the team's previous RB1, Nick Chubb (40%, 13, two, and 22%). 

With a performance like this, Marks' role should only continue expanding (as it has every week so far this season). The Texans' overall offensive ineptitude against non-Titan NFL teams will likely mean he doesn't have many more massive games, but he has the pass-catching ability to provide a solid floor even in bad game scripts. He is, once again, an absolute must-add in all formats. 

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (32.5% Rostered)

Marks' performance was excellent, but he wasn't actually the highest scorer among backs rostered in just under a third of leagues. With Jaylen Warren a surprising late scratch due to a knee injury, former Eagle Gainwell exploded for 28.4 half-PPR points in Dublin against the Vikings.

Gainwell played 77% of the Steelers' offensive snaps and carried the ball 19 times for 99 yards and two TDs. He didn't break any huge runs (zero above 20 yards), but he posted a pristine 86% success rate. He was also heavily involved in the receiving game, catching all six of his targets for 35 yards.

Going forward, Gainwell's value will obviously depend on how long Warren remains sidelined. But even if Warren returns next week (probably the most likely outcome), it would be surprising if Gainwell doesn't get a shot to be more involved given his success this week. Unless we get definitive positive news about Warren before waivers run, he is a must-add. Even if we do, he's still worth adding in most formats, albeit with a much less exciting outlook. 

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (25.2% Rostered)

In 2024, Corum played just 13% of the Rams' offensive snaps and handled 58 carries (15% of the team's total RB rushes). Through the first three weeks, his role was definitely better, but still not fantasy-relevant: 20% of the RB carries on a 24% snap share.

But he took another step forward this week, handling nine carries to Kyren Williams' 13 (41%) on a 29% snap share. The former second-round pick also saw four targets, although he only ran seven routes, so that level of passing involvement is unsustainable. 

Now, I don't think this is a situation where Corum's role will keep expanding until he eventually takes the lead role from Williams entirely. The much-maligned Williams actually ranks fifth among qualified RBs in PFF Rush Grade so far this season; Corum is 27th. But, especially if LA's offense keeps humming, he could have standalone value in deeper formats regardless. A 41% share of carries is straight-up committee territory. 

Even if his usage falls back down (it probably will), Corum also still has elite handcuff value. We know that Sean McVay is willing to heavily lean on his top back, and the Rams clearly don't trust any of their other RBs right now — no non-Corum/Williams back has recorded an offensive snap, let alone a carry. Once we combine his newly expanded role with his existing handcuff value, Corum is definitely worth adding.

Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (2.8% Rostered)

Smith is a seventh-round rookie, converted from wide receiver. He weighs 194 pounds and has seven carries for 24 yards so far this season. Players like this are very rarely given a large enough workload to be weekly fantasy starters, but the Chiefs really might not have a choice. 

Kareem Hunt is effective in short-yardage situations; Isiah Pacheco is marginally more explosive than Hunt. That's about all the positive things I can say about the current two-headed monster in Kansas City's backfield. We have to hope that the Chiefs will eventually give Smith a shot, just to get some juice out of their running game. 

We may have seen the very beginnings of this process on Sunday, as Smith posted new career-highs in snap rate (26%), carries (four), and targets (four). That may not sound like much, but he had more touches in this game than in the first three games combined, and only two fewer snaps. He's still a long way from being a playable fantasy option, but he's worth stashing in deep formats. 

Chris Rodriguez, Washington Commanders (16.8% Rostered)

In two games without Austin Ekeler, Rodriguez has the lead in the Commanders' backfield with 18 carries. His 39% snap share is also the highest among the team's backs. Obviously, nine carries a game on a less than 40% snap share isn't exactly a bell cow profile. 

Rodriguez is also not at all involved as a receiver (zero targets on nine routes), capping his upside even further. But he's someone you could start in a pinch, so he's worth considering. 

Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens (10.6% Rostered)

Hill had a massive game on Sunday. He started strong with a receiving TD on the Ravens' first drive, then added a 71-yard rushing TD in garbage time to finish with 26.2 half-PPR points.

While it was impressive, I don't think this game really changes Hill's outlook. He's the Ravens' go-to receiving-down back, good for a handful of targets and a couple of rushing attempts per game. In deep PPR leagues, that makes him worth considering, especially in games where Baltimore is likely to be playing from behind (not that there are many of those).

In other formats, feel free to leave Hill on the waiver wire; he doesn't even have much handcuff value, as I don't think his role would change dramatically even if Derrick Henry went down. 

Zavier Scott, Minnesota Vikings (1.4% Rostered)

With Aaron Jones on IR, Zavier Scott is clearly the Vikings' preferred receiving back. The 2023 Colts UDFA saw eight targets on Sunday, catching six for 43 yards and a touchdown. 

On the downside, he is only marginally involved on the ground, with just 10 carries over the last two weeks compared to 32 for Jordan Mason. Still, he clearly has a role while Mason is out, which makes him worth at least monitoring in deep PPR formats.