Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire: Injuries to De'Von Achane and Breece Hall Bring Questions, Possibilities

There might not be a fantasy position more susceptible to injuries than running back; it's one of the reasons that many people (including me) say that teams shouldn't pay most backs big contracts. We saw a few stars go down in Week 3, so the door is open for other guys to possibly emerge as useful fantasy contributors. This is when the waiver wire really gets fun (not that we are celebrating or hoping for injuries).

Let's look at seven of the top running back names on the waiver wire as we enter Week 4. Most stats are from NFL.com, and fantasy points and rankings are from FantasyPros.

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Braelon Allen, New York Jets

Allen has been working as the backup to Breece Hall, getting 19 carries and four receptions to Hall's 51 and 10, respectively. Hall left Week 3's loss to the Lions with a thigh injury, though, opening the door for Allen to get more work.

We don't know anything about Hall's injury yet; he could be back at full strength next Sunday. If he misses any time, Allen would become a player that needs to be on a roster in about every league. That makes him a worthy waiver target right now. Week 4 against the Bears is a good matchup, so even if Hall were to miss just one game, Allen would be a player with real flex value.

Watch for more news about Hall's injury. If we find out before Wednesday that he will miss time, Allen is a guy to run out and grab. If word comes back that Hall is likely to be in the lineup in Week 4, though, then Allen would be more of a low-level waiver or handcuff.

Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

De'Von Achane left Sunday's game early with a knee injury, and it is feared to be serious, leaving Gordon to handle every running back carry for Miami for the rest of the game. Unlike the uncertainty around Allen, it looks like Achane is set to miss a lot of time (maybe the rest of the season), leaving room for someone else to step up.

The question is whether that will be Gordon or Wright. Both players received just three carries apiece during the first two weeks, and Wright missed Week 3 with a foot injury of his own, leaving Gordon as the guy to take over the workload.

If Wright returns in Week 4, it wouldn't be a surprise to see this turn into a committee. Gordon was terribly inefficient on Sunday (2.4 yards per carry, though he did score a touchdown), so it's not like he took his chance and ran with it (no pun intended). Neither player took the reigns as top backup, leaving it questionable as to who is in the lead for the most work now.

Both players are probably worth adding to your roster if you're able; you never know who might break out. Wright was listed first on the unofficial depth chart, but that's not really evidence that he'll step into a high-volume role. Most likely, these guys will share carries, and if one player begins to shine, he could take more of the load. At the hardest fantasy position at which to find quality free agents, though, it's worth grabbing one or both guys if you have a roster spot.

Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

We don't need to spend a lot of time here, but it's worth mentioning: Ekeler is signing with the Commanders after not being on a roster for the first few weeks, adding a veteran presence to a backfield that hasn't set the world on fire.

While it's easy to remember his run as a top fantasy RB, Ekeler is now 31, only played two games last season after tearing his Achilles, and hasn't been a high-level fantasy player since 2022. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White make a decent pair, even if they haven't solidified the backfield this season, and Ekeler is more likely to be a rotational guy who gets some snaps but plays behind the other two.

He also probably needs to work his way into game shape, so we might not see him for a few weeks. Either way, I'm not recommending adding Ekeler unless you're in a super-deep league or just have enough nostalgia that you're willing to use a roster spot to see what happens.

Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Jadarian Price left Week 2 with a chest injury but was back on Sunday at full strength. He then fumbled on his third carry of the game and only touched the ball three more times (two carries, one reception) in a game that Seattle lost to Washington.

(I've always found it silly for teams to bench a guy for fumbling unless it's a constant issue, though this was his second straight game losing a fumble. In a two-point loss, it's worth thinking about if Price, a first-round pick this year, could have made the difference if they put him back on the field and showed confidence.)

Wilson took the bulk of the work, carrying the ball nine times but gaining just 14 yards; I have to imagine Price could have outplayed that performance. Wilson also got 21 carries last week when Price went out in the second half, so Seattle is showing that it trusts putting the ball in the hands of the more veteran player.

While I have to assume that Price will retake the lead role, there's real intrigue around Wilson right now. He is worth grabbing and stashing if you have a spot on your bench, as more struggles holding onto the ball for Price could push more work Wilson's way. Don't drop a useful player for him, but if you have a second QB who you aren't using or an extra kicker or defense on your roster, grab Wilson and see if things keep trending his way.

Keaton Mitchell, Los Angeles Chargers

Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders

We'll finish with two guys in the same situation. Mitchell and Washington both scored touchdowns in Week 3, outscoring their more notable teammates (Omarion Hampton and Ashton Jeanty, respectively) in fantasy. Does that mean there's more work to come?

Probably not. Jeanty and Hampton were both first-round picks last season, and they have dominated the carries for their respective teams through three weeks. Football is weird sometimes; you can't tell who is going to find the end zone on any given week. Grabbing Mitchell or Washington is nothing more than a lottery ticket with hopes that they will unexpectedly get more work than a recent first rounder.

Neither Mitchell nor Washington is more than a handcuff. This is more of a lesson about how to treat one week of fantasy scores than any referendum on either individual player.