It's the most wonderful time of the year, as the fantasy playoffs are here! Byes are finally behind us, but injuries remain the gift that keeps on taking. Week 14 took several more productive running backs off the field, leaving more holes in our lineups. Making a successful playoff run may require claiming reinforcements off the waiver wire. Even if you're set at running back, now is the time to make waiver claims to add quality depth pieces to your bench (or keep them out of your opponent's lineup).
Here are three running backs with the potential to be waiver gems for the fantasy playoffs.
Patrick Taylor Jr., San Francisco 49ers
The parade of Niners' running backs to the blue medical tent continued Sunday, with Isaac Guerendo leaving the game early in the fourth quarter. The Niners play on Thursday night, cutting short Guerendo's recovery period to play this week.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said RB Isaac Guerendo has a foot sprain and the team will “evaluate him over the next few days, to see if he'll have a shot” to play Thursday night versus the Rams.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2024
Patrick Taylor Jr. carried the ball six times for 18 yards and a touchdown after Guerendo's exit and should get the bulk of the running back work if Guerendo remains sidelined Thursday. Taylor's backups are expected to be Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who has two carries on the season, and Israel Abanikanda, who joined the team a week ago. Both of those options can remain on the waiver wire.
The Rams surrendered 137 rushing yards to the 49ers in Week 4 and have given up the fourth most rushing yards in the league. Running the ball effectively keeps the Rams' explosive passing game off the field, so the Niners have good cause to feed Patrick Taylor Jr. early and often. He is a waiver priority this week.
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving entered Sunday's game with a questionable designation for a back injury and left the game early in the second quarter after aggravating it. Adam Hutchison is projecting a Week 16 return for Irving, which would keep Tucker as Rachaad White's backup this week against the Chargers.
White played a season-high 76 percent of snaps last week. In his limited relief work, Tucker converted three carries into 47 yards, the longest of which ended just short of the end zone. Tucker is a valuable waiver addition even if White plays a bellcow role, and they're more valuable if the starter misses time.
With White on the sidelines in Week 6, Tucker was on the field for 38 percent of snaps. He ran 14 times for 136 yards, caught all three of his targets for 56 yards – all season highs – and scored two touchdowns versus New Orleans.
Among running backs with at least 30 carries, Tucker leads the league with a 12.1 percent explosive run rate, nearly four times White's 3.3 rate. Tucker's big-play potential any time he gets the ball makes him a solid waiver-wire addition this week.
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
Vidal edged ahead of Gus Edwards in the Chargers running back rotation on Monday night, playing 53% of snaps to Edwards's 44 percent. This represented a reversal from the week before when Edwards out-snapped Vidal, 24-12, in the first game without J.K. Dobbins, who remains out until at least Week 17. This increase in usage makes Vidal an attractive waiver target this week.
Vidal was the primary backup to Dobbins in Weeks 6-9 when Edwards was out with an ankle injury. Either Dobbins or Edwards has been sidelined for each of Vidal's six games this season. He has averaged 3.3 yards per carry and has produced through the air, gaining a total of 49 receiving yards on three catches with a touchdown.
Hassan Haskins had one snap in Week 1, and he has not seen the field for more than seven snaps in a game this season... except for Week 12. Dobbins left that game in the second quarter, and Vidal was inactive, opening the door for Haskins to compete with Edwards for touches.
The problem with Vidal, as with any of the Chargers backs not named Dobbins, is the potential that he may not be the lead for Greg Roman's "hot hand" offense. A different Chargers running back has led the team in snaps in each of the last four weeks: Dobbins (Week 11), Haskins (Week 12), Edwards (Week 13) and Vidal (Week 14). The workload split against the Buccaneers could hinge on Vidal's first couple of carries.
In his favor, Tampa Bay has allowed the most receiving yards to running backs this season. Vidal has the most targets among the running backs available this week.
Patrick Taylor Jr., Sean Tucker, Kimani Vidal, and more!
Any of these waiver additions could bolster your team's bench or fill holes in your starting lineup. But be sure to check out Upgrades and Downgrades to see who's rising and who is fading as the week unfolds, and good luck in the fantasy playoffs.