Week 9 Waiver Wire Running Back Priority List | Picking Between Leonard Fournette, Tank Bigsby and Devin Singletary

The week 9 waiver wire options aren’t all that star-studded, but it is a fairly deep week for most positions.

Using FantasySP’s Fantasy Assistant tool and predictive adds, let’s take a look at some of the top waiver wire options at running back and determine how you should be prioritizing them within the position. We’ll stick with players who have a pre-waiver own percentage of below 50%.

I already published a story on quarterbacks in this criteria, and I’ll be doing similar stories for wide receivers and tight ends, so check back later for those.

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Sought After Waiver Wire Running Backs

Running back is the one position really lacking in waiver wire options going into week 9. Using the pre-waiver own percentage of 50, only three backs meet that mark - Buffalo Bills’ Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Tank Bigsby and Houston Texans’ Devin Singletary. 

Arizona Cardinals’ Emari Demercado is the only other back with an Expected Waiver Interest number over 15%, but he’s already owned in 65% of leagues, and likely won’t be involved too much longer with James Conner expected back soon.

I wrote a bunch about Fournette on Monday after he signed with the Bills’ practice squad. To sum things up, I think Fournette is likely to become the short-yardage and goal-line back for Buffalo, overtaking Latavius Murray for that role. I believe James Cook will retain his lead role, and that the only way Fournette overtakes Cook is if the younger back starts to really struggle on the ground or with fumbles - both of which are things he’s excelled at to this point of the season.

Still, when you have a lack of waiver wire options at the position, a big name like Fournette is absolutely going to be getting some waiver wire love, even if he isn’t on the team’s active roster.

My article also noted how the Bills’ upcoming schedule includes some tough defenses, which should be the perfect opportunity to test Fournette out in short-yardage or goal-line plays. 

I was a little surprised to see Bigsby on the list of top waiver wire backs, but again, it’s slim pickings this week.

Bigsby has just 23 carries for 54 yards on the season, but has scored twice. He’s added one catch for 6 yards on three targets. He’s only played 89 offensive snaps, which is 359 snaps behind clear No. 1 option Travis Etienne.

Bigsby has lost two fumbles in his limited opportunities. He’s played double-digit snaps just four times, and has just 14 offensive snaps over the past two weeks.

I actually think it’s possible that D'Ernest Johnson takes the No. 2 role away from Bigsby this week given Bigsby’s fumbling struggles.

Singletary makes a lot more sense to me on this list. He’s the No. 2 back behind Dameon Pierce, but has been splitting the workload pretty evenly of late.

In week 8, both backs had 12 touches, producing similar statlines. Pierce rushed 12 times for 46 yards, while Singletary had 30 rushing yards on 10 attempts and two catches for 13 yards. 

Pierce and Singletary each got two red zone carries, as did fullback Andrew Beck. Of course, it was Beck that stole a touchdown away from the two running backs.

The Priority List

This isn’t the greatest trio of waiver wire options, but you simply might not have any other options, so let’s make a decision.

I like Singletary the best, simply because he’s got a defined role in his team’s offense. Even if he continues to split the workload 50/50 with Pierce, he’ll be a better fantasy option than Fournette or Bigsby.

Even though Fournette just signed with Buffalo, I’m easily taking him over Bigsby. If he can become the short-yardage and goal-line back for the team, he’ll be touchdown dependent, but with how good the Bills’ offense is, he should have plenty of chances to score for your team. There’s also the slim chance that he shines in Buffalo and becomes the lead back.

Bigsby’s role doesn’t ever look like it could get to where Fournette could. Etienne is the bellcow and is one of the best running backs in the league right now. Even if Bigsby holds on to his No. 2 role, there isn’t a lot of work available for him. I’d stay away from Bigsby unless you are in a deep, deep league.