The Way This Works...

To see this article's purpose, please refer to the intro from Week 2.

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The Running List of Past Recommendations

I'll update this throughout the season so you have a wealth of considerations beyond my weekly recommendations. I change their standing as developments occur.

Scroll past these running lists for new suggestions.

Add Nows 

Most of these players will not be available, but you'll get a sense of who has been recommended and who to snap up if they become available. 

• Bryce Young
• Isaac Guerendo
• Alec Pierce
• Kayshon Boutte
• Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
• Devaughn Vele
• Noah Gray
• Ameer Abdullah
• Michael Mayer
• Andrei Iosivas
• Michael Penix Jr.
• Ray Davis
• Drew Lock
• Demarcus Robinson

Preemptive

These players may not give you production this weekend, but they are worth considering because there's potential for them to deliver due to injuries or personnel changes. 

• Darius Slayton
• KaVontae Turpin
• Cam Akers
• Sean Tucker
• Jalen Nailor
• Chris Brooks
• Mike Williams
• Noah Gray

Preemptive/Monitor

You can probably wait until a compelling event creates a potential need for these players. 

• Dylan Laube
• Tyler Goodson
• Cordarrelle Patterson
• David Moore
• Will Levis
• Audric Estime
• Kimani Vidal
• Brenton Strange
• Sterling Shepard

Monitor

These players have the talent to contribute to your lineup immediately if elevated to a starting role. If you can't find any talent with playing opportunities to have at the end of your roster, it's worth adding 1-2 of these options in case injury strikes, and you can beat the demand on the waiver wire. 

• Julius Chestnut
• Tre Tucker
• Brenton Strange
• Dawson Knox
• Nelson Agholor
• Allen Lazard
• Jalin Hyatt
• Cade Stover
• Ricky Pearsall
• Xavier Hutchinson
• Jameis Winston

Forget (For Now...)

They have too many players ahead of them on their depth charts to earn an impact anytime soon. Or they suffered an injury. 

• Tyler Badie
• Dalvin Cook
• Rakim Jarrett 
• Blake Watson
• Trey Palmer
• Evan Hull
• Dareke Young
• Bub Means
• Chris Rodriguez Jr.
• Adam Trautman
• Jordan Mason (IR)
• Travis Homer
• Jordan Mims
• Noah Brown (IR)
• Theo Johnson (IR)
• Jake Haener

Add Now: WR Malik Washington, Dolphins

The Skinny on Washington: The rookie from Virginia is an excellent runner after the catch with enough speed to earn separation in the vertical game. Learning the slot and flanker roles in Mike McDaniel's offense isn't easy, so Washington's acclimation was slow this summer. 

As the year progressed, Washington managed to earn a steady 15-20 snaps between Weeks 4-10. In recent weeks, those snaps have increased to 30-40 with Odell Beckham Jr out of the picture and Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle ailing. 

Recommendation: Waddle hasn't practiced this week and it could make Washington the third or fourth option in the passing game, depending on the play call. If he takes over Waddle's role, it could make him the first or second on enough targets that he earns a minimum of 4-6 targets, 3-5 catches, and 30-50 yards. 

Because Washington can break tackles, there's touchdown potential. If you're desperate, Washington could give you a reasonable floor of PPR value with a hint of high upside. 

Preemptive:  RB Kenny McIntosh, Seahawks

The Skinny on McIntosh: A skilled pass-catcher from the backfield with solid decision-making between the tackles, McIntosh was a co-starter at Georgia before making the Seahawks as a late-round pick two years ago. Ken Walker III has been nursing an oblique injury in recent weeks and Zach Charbonnet also missed practice on Wednesday with a similar injury. 

McIntosh earned 45 yards from scrimmage in relief of Charbonnet last week. Depending on the health of Walker and Charbonnet, McIntosh could either earn a passing-down/change-of-pace role or the lead role in Week 16 against a Vikings defense that's better at rushing the passer than stopping the run. 

Recommendation: McIntosh could be your "add-now" recommendation if you need a running back ahead of a receiver. If McIntosh isn't available, keep an eye out for rookie George Holani from Boise State. The Seahawks will likely sign him or Brittain Brown to the active roster and use one of them as the No.2 if both Walker and Charbonnet are out. 

Holani gave McIntosh a strong run for the final roster spot this summer. He's a good receiver, has contact balance, and was good enough to earn playing time with Ashton Jeanty in 2023. 

Preemptive/Monitor: RB Israel Abanikanda, 49ers

The Skinny on Abanikanda: Isaac Guerendo is unlikely to play this weekend, which means Patrick Taylor Jr. will start and earn the first shot at extended playing time. If Taylor is available on your waiver wire, he's an Add-Now candidate, but I'm presuming he was a recommended waiver-wire add in most formats. 

Abanikanda reminds me of Damien Harris based on build and a versatile enough skill set to produce as a starter in a power running game but lacking the elite athletic ability that will keep him in a lead role for more than a year because his organization will want a more explosive runner. Like Harris, Abanikanda enters the league a better zone runner than gap runner but is only a tweak or two away from gaining competency with both blocking schemes.

If Abanikanda had better re-acceleration and attacked with greater ferocity into the collision point, he would be a more compelling option as a lead back. Still, he’s explosive enough to flip the field with decisive moves through tight creases that get him into open lanes downhill on a variety of blocking schemes or on gap plays to the perimeter.

He’s a serviceable option, who, like Harris, or Jamaal Williams, could begin his career on the bench or as a low-volume role-player and then work his way into a career as a reliable co-starter.

Recommendation: If Abanikanda is the reserve to Taylor this weekend, he should earn some touches. If Taylor struggles or gets hurt, Abanikanda could become the short-term starter for a capable 49ers' offense. 

Abanikanda is worth adding if you either have Taylor or needed Taylor and didn't get him. You never know, Taylor could suffer an injury in warmups, and it leads to Abanikanda earning the lead role this week. 

Final Thought

Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.  

Follow @MattWaldman