Best available running backs on the Week 9 waiver wire

There are a few running backs widely available that either have good matchups heading into Week 9, or had successful Week 8 performances, or could benefit from an injury. With that in mind, here are seven running backs with under 50% rostership in traditional fantasy football leagues that managers can consider picking up for Week 9.

Week 9 byes: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles

Giovani Bernard, Kareem Hunt, Malcolm Brown, and Boston Scott will not be available for this week’s set of games.

Damien Harris, New England Patriots (31.3 percent)

Next up — @NYJ, BAL, @HOU, ARI, @LAC

Harris eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the second time this year against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. New England is spread thin at receiver because of injuries to Julian Edelman (knee) and N’Keal Harry (concussion). Cam Newton’s inconsistency throwing the football to below average targets could cause the Patriots to lean on Harris. Harris has been far more productive than Rex Burkhead or James White and will likely be on a ton of wishlists ahead of Week 9.

J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens (48.8 percent)

Next up — @IND, @NE, TEN, @PIT, DAL

Dobbins was used sparingly ahead of Week 8 but had his best performance of the year on Sunday against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that’s consistently stuffed the run this year. He ran for 113 yards on 15 carries and caught a pass as well. If Mark Ingram misses another game with an ankle sprain, Dobbins could put up some big numbers in the near future.

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (4.8 percent)

Next up — @IND, @NE, TEN, @PIT, DAL

The Ravens are good enough on the ground to warrant putting two of their backs on this list. Edwards tallied 16 carries for 87 yard and a score against the Steelers and should continue to be a factor even if Dobbins takes over as the lead back. There are a lot of defenses inferior to Pittsburgh against the run and either of the Ravens’ backs can flourish if given more opportunities.

Wayne Gallman Jr., New York Giants (14.9 percent)

Next up — @WAS, PHI, @CIN, @SEA, ARI

Devonta Freeman is battling an ankle injury and Gallman was a pleasant surprise as a fill-in against the Philadelphia Eagles. He should get most of the carries over Dion Lewis while Freeman is out and has proved to be a reliable pass catcher. His ceiling isn’t very high because of New York’s lowly offense but he’s worth rostering in deeper leagues.

Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis Colts (0.5 percent)

Next up — BAL, @TEN, GB, TEN, @HOU

Fantasy managers with stock in Jonathan Taylor couldn’t help but tear their hair out when Wilkins tallied 89 rushing yards and a score on 20 carries and Nyheim Hines caught two touchdown passes in Week 8. The Colts appear to be dialing back on the rookie’s workload and that could make other options viable plays in deeper leagues. Indianapolis doesn’t run the ball a ton but any player who could eclipse 15 touches is worth taking a look at.

Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills (36.2 percent)

Next up — SEA, @ARI, BYE, LAC, @SF

Moss has arrived. The rookie has taken a backseat to Devin Singletary for most of the season but notched 14 carries for 81 yards and two scores in Week 8. He was even with Singletary in carries and doubled his previous season-high of seven. Now that he’s shown what he can do he could begin to split the workload with the starter evenly.

JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers (45.6 percent)

Next up — GB, @NO, @LAR, BUF, WAS

Hasty got more touches than Jerick McKinnon for a second straight game in Week 8 and Tevin Coleman exited Sunday’s game because of knee pain in his first appearance off the IR. Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are injured and few teams have been better than the Seattle Seahawks against the run this year. I’d bank on Hasty turning things around after rushing for 29 yards and a score on 12 carries.

Malcolm Brown, Los Angeles Rams (36.2 percent)

Next up — BYE, SEA, @TB, SF, @ARI

It’s unclear how severe the thigh injury Darrell Henderson Jr. suffered in Week 8 is and Los Angeles has a bye in Week 9. If he does miss time after the bye week Brown is the back who’s most likely to get most of the work. Brown thrived as the Rams’ goal line back and has gotten touches consistently when healthy and appears to be his team’s best passing threat out of the backfield. Cam Akers could be worth taking a flier on as well.