Happy Holidays to all. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. Happy Championship Week to fantasy managers who made it this far. You're a win away from glory. You're so close to paying off all those hours of poring over waiver-wire wonders, pondering free agents' upsides, and weighing trade offers. As you make that final climb to the mountaintop, you may be looking for one more piece, or else you wouldn't be reading this now. In the spirit of avoiding lumps of coal in our lineups, here are some waiver-wire options that might secure that championship belt unless, like the hottest toy, they're already gone.
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
Rookie Trey Benson finally got his opportunity to take over the backfield after the surprisingly durable James Conner left Sunday's game with a hyperextended knee that our Adam Hutchison thinks might be a season-ending injury. Unfortunately, Trey Benson was inactive. He had been unable to practice all week due to an ankle injury he suffered the week before. With Emari Demercado on injured reserve, it was up to Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas to finish the game at running back. If healthy enough to play, Benson figures to be the starter against the Rams this week.
The Rams surrendered 231 yards on the ground, including 122 to Conner, in a 41-10 loss to Arizona in Week 2. However, just three teams have given up fewer fantasy points to running backs since Week 13 than the Rams, who have allowed an average of 15.7 point-per-reception (PPR) points per game to running backs during that stretch. The matchup is not ideal, but Trey Benson could have the volume to produce a decent stat line.
Unfortunately, a waiver bid for Trey Benson is a leap of faith that he plays. If he practices on Tuesday (This article was written on Monday), then that leap is more of a bunny hop. If he does not practice Tuesday, then that leap may look more like an Olympic long jump. Either way, it may be worth it to risk having him sit on your bench versus having your opponent start him against you.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
The Saints gave Kendre Miller a chance to lead their backfield in Alvin Kamara's absence, but they didn't give him a chance to succeed. The Saints were never in the game at cold Lambeau Field. Miller ran the ball eight times for 15 yards and had two receptions for 16 yards, a performance that doesn't inspire confidence. It could have been better, but the Saints employed a three-man committee approach to no apparent advantage.
Kendre Miller played 21 of 24 snaps after Alvin Kamara's injury last week.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) December 24, 2024
Tonight, he played a bunch early, but plummeted to 40% of the snaps, inexplicably trailing Jordan Mims (43%) and ahead of Jamaal Williams (19%). Odd.
Better days are ahead, beginning with a home game against Las Vegas this week. The Raiders have allowed eight different running backs to surpass 75 rushing yards this season, but Miller may be hard-pressed to become the ninth. The Saints may once again utilize a committee approach if Kamara misses the game, and he may not. Kamara is 50 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season, so I expect he will be back on the field before the season ends if he can play.
Miller will be difficult to trust with a fantasy championship on the line. His potential is high, but his floor is low.
Ameer Abdullah and Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
Then there's the Raiders. Las Vegas is dead last in the NFL in rushing this season, averaging just 77.5 yards per game on the ground. The Raiders average 3.52 yards per carry, nearly half a yard per carry below the next worst team. Just 3.0 percent of their rush attempts go for 15 yards or more, which is the fourth-lowest explosive run rate in the league, according to Fantasy Points Data. The Raiders have 645 rushing yards after contact, which is also the worst in the league.
All of that should support a strategy of avoiding this backfield entirely. Sometimes, you have to dance with whoever's left on the dance floor. Enter Ameer Abdullah and Alexander Mattison, two healthy back-ups ready to line dance for you, or at least dance around the line for you. Among the 40 running backs with at least 100 rush attempts, Mattison ranks 40th with 3.17 yards per carry.
Indeed, Abdullah has been more efficient with his opportunities, but Mattison has been given more of them. Mattison has been on the field for 284 snaps to 195 for Abdullah in the games they have both played since Week 5. Mattison out-snapped Abdullah 125 to 82 in the three games they played without Zamir White or Sincere McCormick, including 42 to 32 last week. Neither was great against hapless Jacksonville last week, but each managed to score a rushing touchdown to salvage their fantasy scores.
Unfortunately, you may have to settle for a Raider if you need to pick up a running back this week. If that's the case, then Abdullah has demonstrated better upside over Mattison, even with fewer touches.
Trey Benson, Kendre Miller, Ameer Abdullah, Alexander Mattison, and more!
Santa Claus probably didn't leave a starting running back under the tree this year, so you'll have to do your last-minute shopping on the waiver wire. Like a toy store on the day after Christmas, the waiver wire has been picked over, but some options remain. I've covered some options at running back. You can see where Trey Benson and others land and see who else is rising and falling customized for your league using our Upgrades and Downgrades tool.
Good luck in the fantasy championships, and Happy Holidays!