Week 7 Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Adds: Kimani Vidal, Bam Knight and More

Normally, the options on the fantasy football waiver wire get less and less attractive as the season wears on. Due to the nature of the position — running backs are both injury-prone and relatively replaceable — RB is a slight exception to this rule. 

But even for running back, this week's waiver options feel especially exciting. We have multiple widely available players taking over as starters for their teams, some young players on the rise, and a player putting up historic numbers still available in over a third of leagues. Without further ado, here they are.

Check out fantasy football waiver wire targets all season on FantasySP. 

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (62.6% Rostered)

With a 62.6% roster rate, Dowdle has probably already been snagged in most particularly active leagues. But I simply can't not mention him after his second straight week as the overall half-PPR RB1 (pending MNF).

If anything, that already absurd stat undersells how good Dowdle's last two games have been. With Chuba Hubbard sidelined, he has recorded over 200 scrimmage yards in two straight weeks. Only 10 other backs have achieved that feat since the turn of the century. Only Dalvin Cook has done it in the last nine years. 

Yes, Dowdle did this against probably the two worst defenses in the league in the Cowboys and the Dolphins. But that simply doesn't matter at this point. He has almost certainly earned the Panthers' RB1 role even when Hubbard returns, and he is a must-add in all formats. 

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (33.4% Rostered)

Hopefully, you listened to my advice in last week's waiver article and prioritized Vidal over fellow Chargers RB Hassan Haskins … and didn't listen to any of my takes later in the week, as I eventually changed my mind. I should've stuck with my first instinct, as Vidal was clearly the Chargers' RB1 on Sunday.

The sophomore easily led LA's backfield in snap share (72%), carries (18 of 24), route participation (44%) and targets (four). He turned all that work into a very respectable 21.3 half-PPR points (although, like Dowdle, his big game comes with an “against the Dolphins” asterisk). 

Meanwhile, Chargers rookie RB Omarion Hampton is reportedly set to miss more than the minimum four weeks with his ankle injury. That means Vidal is theoretically locked in as the RB1 for one of the league's better offenses for the foreseeable future. And he has the athleticism and pass-catching profile to hopefully make the most of this opportunity.

The only potential issue is that the Chargers have reportedly called around about trading for a running back. But for now, Vidal looks like a weekly RB2 and is a clear must-add player. 

Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals (9.3% Rostered)

The Cardinals are without James Conner for the rest of the season and Trey Benson for the foreseeable future. In Week 5, the first week without Benson, that meant Michael Carter was the team's RB1. But early on Sunday morning, it was reported that former Jets UDFA Zonovan "Bam" Knight would get the start instead.

That information turned out to be more or less accurate. Although the differences between the two weren't huge, Knight led Carter in snaps (49% to 46%) and carries (11 to nine). However, Carter led in both route participation rate (40% to 26%) and targets (four to two). Emari Demercado, who had previously played as the team's passing-down back, was barely involved even before exiting with an ankle injury. 

Going forward, both Knight and Carter can have value, but Knight is the better option. Carter's receiving work is valuable, but Knight has the clear edge on the ground and near the goal line — he has played seven of 11 snaps and handled three of four attempts within the 10 over the last two weeks. That is enough to make him a viable flex, at least.  

Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys (20.7% Rostered)

Blue's Week 6 wasn't anything to write home about. With Miles Sanders on IR, the fifth-round rookie was active for the second time all season, but he was hardly involved. He played only five snaps, handling three carries and running just one route. Fullback Hunter Luepke saw three times as many snaps in a passing-down role, although he did not handle a carry.

However, disappointing early returns do not mean Blue has no hope going forward. Sanders is officially done for the year, which means that Blue is locked in as the RB2 behind Javonte Williams (Luepke's pass-catching role is relevant, but it's hard to imagine his usage expanding much beyond that). 

Williams has played very well to start the season, so it's unlikely that Blue will become the Cowboys' RB1 without an injury. But injuries happen, or the rookie could simply earn more touches while still being the clear second back for Dallas. Blue is an explosive athlete and was heavily utilized as a pass-catcher in college, increasing his upside if he does ever get an opportunity. Especially given how well the Cowboys' offense has performed so far this season, he's worth adding in deeper formats.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (21.3% Rostered)

After leading the Saints in carries in Week 5, Miller took a slight step back this week. He played just 37% of New Orleans' offensive snaps and handled eight carries to Alvin Kamara's 10.

Given that Kamara is still the team's clear receiving back (26 targets to Miller's five for the season), the third-year RB needs to increase his rushing workload to be fantasy viable. Things are trending in the wrong direction for Miller in more ways than one, as Taysom Hill has returned and seems to be settling into a short-yardage role (he scored a one-yard TD on his only carry on Sunday).

With that said, Miller is still at least a player worth considering. It was reported on Sunday that Kamara is not expected to be traded. While that's obviously not ideal news for Miller, the context of that report was that Saints GM Mickey Loomis was asking the 30-year-old RB whether he wanted to be traded. With the Saints now 1-5, maybe Kamara changes his mind, or maybe he simply loses his choice. Alternatively, the Saints could simply ramp up Miller's usage with an eye toward a future later in the season. 

This is all a bit speculative, and the Saints' offense is one of the worst in the league. But Kellen Moore is at least pushing the pace, so there are plenty of touches to go around. Miller could carve out deep-league flex value even while Kamara remains, and he has upside for much more depending on how things shake out.

Woody Marks, Houston Texans (59.9% Rostered)

The Texans were on bye this week. But over their previous two games, the fourth-round rookie out of USC was their clear lead back. Marks was ahead of veteran Nick Chubb in snaps (48% to 37%), routes (36% to 19%), and targets (six to three); they each handled 24 carries. 

In Week 4, this led to a huge fantasy performance for Marks, as he put up 25.9 half-PPR points. After that outing, he was unsurprisingly one of the hottest waiver adds of the week.

But, despite still seeing solid usage, he scored just 2.4 points in Week 5. That, plus the Texans' being on bye this week, explains why he is slipping under the radar in over 40% of leagues. Check whether your league is one of them, as he should be rostered everywhere.