Best available running backs on the Week 8 waiver wire

There are a few running backs widely available that either have good matchups heading into Week 8, or had successful Week 7 performances, or could benefit from an injury. With that in mind, here are six running backs with under 50% ownership (and Chase Edmonds) in traditional fantasy football leagues that managers can consider picking up for Week 8.

Week 8 Byes: Washington Football Team, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars

JaMycal Hasty, 49ers (20 percent)

Next up — @SEA, GB@, NO, BYE, @LAR

It’s Hasty’s world and we’re just living in it. Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman are on the IR while Jeff Wilson is expected to miss time with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 7. Coleman has a shot at returning for the first time since Week 2 but his status is up in the air. Jerick McKinnon is ahead of Hasty on the depth chart but tallied three carries and didn’t get a target in Week 7. Hasty notched nine carries for 57 yards with a 16-yard reception. Hasty appears more likely to become the 49ers’ next feature back.

Carlos Hyde, Seahawks (10 percent)

Next up — SF, @BUF, @LAR, ARI, @PHI

Chris Carson is dealing with a foot sprain and is considered week-to-week. That means Hyde is poised to take over as the top option out of the backfield. He scored Seattle’s lone rushing touchdown in Week 7 and shouldn’t forfeit too many touches to Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas while Carson is out.

Damien Harris, Patriots (47 percent)

Next up — @BUF, @NYJ, BAL, @HOU, ARI

New England’s backfield is crowded but Harris has led the Patriots running backs in attempts for three straight games. He hasn’t come close to matching the 17 carries he got against the Chiefs but appears to be the best when it comes to running between the tackles. New England could look to emphasize the ground game more if Cam Newton continues to struggle throwing the football. Harris is the best man for the job.

Wayne Gallman Jr., Giants (2 percent)

Next up — TB, @WSH, PHI, BYE, @CIN

Gallman was unexpectedly the Giants’ most productive back in their Thursday Night Football matchup. He led New York with 10 carries for 34 yards and a score and caught five passes for 20 yards. There’s no guarantee that Devonte Freeman or Dion Lewis will be phased out moving forward, but Gallman could be a sneaky waiver wire pickup in deeper leagues.

Tevin Coleman, 49ers (27 percent)

Next up — SF, @BUF, @LAR, ARI, @PHI

Kyle Shanahan suggested that Coleman could be available for Week 8. He’s recovering from a knee injury. He only rushed for 30 yards on 18 carries playing behind Raheem Mostert but was San Francisco’s top back at points in 2019. If he’s healthy enough to handle a full workload in the near future he could take the starting job from Hasty and McKinnon.

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals (68 percent)

Next up — BYE, MIA, BUF, @SEA, @NE

Kenyan Drake is expected to miss a few weeks because of a ligament tear in his ankle so Edmonds season is upon us. He rattled off 58 yards on five carries against the Seahawks’ effective run defense and caught seven passes for 87 yards. He tallied seven targets in Week 7. Expect his fantasy ceiling to rise exponentially while Drake is out. Edmonds was a top 25 running back in PPR leagues as a backup through Week 7.