Tag: Khalil Herbert

5 running backs to target on fantasy football waiver wire

If you have a fantasy football championship game in Week 18, consider these five running backs on the waiver wire.

If you’re reading this, you likely play in a fantasy football league that schedules its championship game for Week 18. If that’s the case, consider talking with your league’s managers about moving the title game up to Week 17 in 2025 because there are so many key players who are rested in the final week of the NFL’s regular season.

With that suggestion out of the way, here is our final fantasy football waiver wire list of the 2024 season. It’s five running backs, none of whom were considered viable starters in Week 1 of this season. That’s fantasy football (and a reflection of the Week 18 landscape).

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Running Backs

1. RB Ameer Abdullah (33.4%): Abdullah had double the amount of carries (20) as Alexander Mattison (10) on Sunday and he led the Raiders with 115 yards on the ground while adding three catches for 32 yards. Abdullah is the RB1 in Las Vegas going into Week 18.

2. RB Michael Carter (1.1%): Trey Benson (ankle) was inactive on Sunday and James Conner (knee) left the game after just four carries. The Cardinals then turned to Michael Carter, who stepped up with 13 carries for 70 yards while adding two receptions for 11 yards. If Benson and Conner are sidelined again this week, Carter could have another productive day.

3. RB Kareem Hunt (66.1%): The Chiefs are expected to rest their key starters, likely including Isiah Pacheco, against the Broncos. That could leave a sizable workload for Hunt. If Hunt is not available in your league, there should also be plenty of touches for Samaje Perine (2.4%) against his old team.

4. RB Khalil Herbert (4.4%): Chase Brown injured his ankle on Saturday, leaving Herbert as the next man up for the Bengals. It’s not believed to be a serious injury, so Brown might be on the field for a must-win game in Week 18. If Brown isn’t able to suit up, Cincy will turn to Herbert.

5. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (17.8%): McLaughlin has been the Broncos’ best running back in recent weeks and he will face KC’s backups on Sunday. McLaughlin turned 10 carries and two catches into 76 yards in Week 17.

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Bengals’ Khalil Herbert runs into left tackle Cody Ford’s butt, is tackled

Does Cody Ford’s butt get credit for a solo tackle of teammate Khalil Herbert

Khalil Herbert took the handoff from Joe Burrow. He didn’t anticipate being tackled by the derriere of his left tackle. Butt, that’s what happened.

In the second quarter of the Cincinnati Bengals’ game in Dallas on Monday, Herbert started to run and ran smack into the backside of the 6-foot-3, 345-pound Ford.

Ford’s backside won and Herbert went down on the play that will be known as the “Butt Tackle.”

It joins Mark Sanchez and the “Butt Fumble” in infamy but not to the extent that has lived with the former New York Jets QB.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 11 opponent: Bengals

Here are some important things to know about the Bengals ahead of the Week 11 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are at home to face the Bengals in primetime on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 5:20 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 11 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Bengals are 4-6 on the season. Cincinnati has one-point losses to the Chiefs and Ravens.

Prolific passing attack

Jesse Minter will have his work cut out against Joe Burrow and company. The Bengals rank fourth in passing offense, averaging 254.8 yards per game. Burrow leads in the NFL with 2,672 yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s only thrown four interceptions.

Brace for Chase

Burrow’s top target, Ja’Marr Chase, has been a terror to opposing defenses. Chase leads the league in receptions (66), receiving yards (981) and touchdowns (10).

Rough rushing offense

The Bengals have had success through the air, but the same can’t be said about their ground game. Cincinnati is 29th in rushing yards per game (89.7). Chase Brown is the team’s lead back. They acquired Khalil Herbert last week from the Bears after Zack Moss sustained a season-ending neck injury.

Dreadful defense

The Bengals have been able to score points, but they’ve struggled to prevent them, as they’ve allowed 26.2 PPG (26th). Cincinnati ranks 23rd and 17th in pass and rush defense, respectively. However, their issues have been in critical situations. The team ranks 31st in red zone percentage (71.88%) and 29th in third-down conversion percentage (45.80%).

Look out for…

Chase. This will be the biggest test for the Chargers’ cornerbacks this season. He’s capable of taking over a game with his big-play ability.

Fantasy Football: 12 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Audric Estime is the top running back to target on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

It looks like there’s been a changing of the guard in the Denver Broncos‘ backfield.

Broncos coach Sean Payton hinted last week that rookie Audric Estime could be more involved in the second half of the season, and that’s beginning to play out. Estime led the team’s backfield in snaps (26), carries (14) and rushing yards (53) on Sunday. Javonte Williams (one carry and two targets) seems to have been relegated to passing-down duties.

Estime could be Denver’s new RB1 going forward, and he should be considered a top priority on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Elsewhere on the waiver wire front, wide receiver Cedric Tillman (50%) should be rostered, Dawson Knox (1%) is a streaming tight end option and quarterback Bo Nix (50%) has quickly become fantasy-relevant.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Audric Estime (1%): Estime’s efficiency (3.8 yards per carry) wasn’t great on Sunday, but Payton seems to be a big fan of the rookie, so his workload (14 carries) will likely trend up in the coming weeks.

2. RB Gus Edwards (21%): Edwards (10 carries for 55 yards) split time with J.K. Dobbins (15 carries for 50 yards) on Sunday. Playing in a run-heavy offense, both RBs could be fantasy-relevant going forward.

3. RB Tyler Allgeier (50%): Bijan Robinson remains the star, but Allgeier (11 carries for 59 yards) isn’t going away. Allgeier has standalone flex value and he’s an extremely important handcuff in case Robinson is ever unavailable.

4. RB Trey Benson (16%): James Conner (17 touches for 113 yards) and Benson (12 touches for 87 yards) were both productive on Sunday as the Cardinals cruised to a comfortable win over the Jets. That won’t happen every week, but Benson should be rostered. Note that Arizona has a bye in Week 11.

5. RB Tyjae Spears (42%): Spears (10 touches for 51 yards) wasn’t far behind Tony Pollard (13 touches for 63 yards) in Week 10. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues.

6. RB Braelon Allen (22%): Breece Hall is obviously the RB1, but Allen (seven carries and one target) remains involved. Allen could be a flex option if you’re desperate.

7. RB Cam Akers (16%): Aaron Jones had an injury scare on Sunday before later returning to the game. Akers is worth adding in case Jones does end up missing any time. With Jones missing part of Sunday’s game, Akers got 14 touches for the Vikings in Week 10.

8. RB Ray Davis (19%): He’s just a handcuff behind James Cook at this point, but Davis proved earlier this season that he’s a capable fill-in option if called upon in Buffalo.

9. RB Blake Corum (16%): The Rams have been giving Kyren Williams a heavy workload, and Corum could be an extremely valuable handcuff down the stretch if Williams gets banged up.

10. RB Kenneth Gainwell (2%): Saquon Barkley steps aside when the Eagles have big leads, giving value to Gainwell and Will Shipley (1%) when Philly is a big favorite.

11. RB Keaton Mitchell (5%): The speedy running back returned to action in Week 10 and the Ravens now have a “three-headed monster” at running back. Mitchell is worth stashing, especially in deep leagues.

12. RB Jaylen Wright (5%): De’Von Achane remains the RB1 in Miami, but Wright might be taking the RB2 role away from Raheem Mostert. Wright got the second-most carries (five) on Monday. Mostert was targeted three times as a receiver out of the backfield but got no carries.

Bonus: RB Jaylen Warren (62%) is already rostered in most leagues, but double-check just to make sure he’s not still available in your league. 

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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AFC North rival strengthens run game with RB trade at deadline

The Cincinnati Bengals have made a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire RB Khalil Herbert in an attempt to solve their running game woes.

The trade deadline is finally here, and it appears the Cincinnati Bengals, AFC North rivals of Pittsburgh, couldn’t wait any longer for today’s festivities, as the team has made a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire RB Khalil Herbert in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, per insider Tom Pelissero.

The trade came just one day after Cincinnati’s Head Coach Zac Taylor announced that the team’s RB Zack Moss would be out indefinitely with a neck injury. This move boosts not only their run game but also the depth behind newly announced starting RB Chase Brown.

Considered by many to be dark horse candidates to challenge the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North divisional title race, the 4-5 Bengals have bolstered what was once one of their weakest areas on offense, creating a two-headed RB monster with the addition of Herbert.

Will Pittsburgh make a blockbuster trade at the deadline to keep up with the rest of the AFC, or will the team see the deadline as an opportunity to acquire solid depth?

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Khalil Herbert contract details after Bengals trade for RB

Contract details for new Bengals running back Khalil Herbert.

The Cincinnati Bengals filled the hole left by the injury to Zack Moss by trading for Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears.

Herbert is in the final year of his rookie contract after originally being drafted by the Bears in the sixth round in 2021. The Bengals should take on just over $555,000 in base salary for Herbert, as the Bears have already taken care of about half of his $1.05 million total salary for this season after playing eight games. The Bengals will owe for the remaining nine games.

The Bengals only had to flip a seventh-round pick to the Bears to facilitate the trade. Herbert has recently been a healthy scratch for the Bears as D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson have handled the workload for Chicago.

The Bengals should still have about $8.5 million in cap space even after this trade — enough to make another move or two.

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Khalil Herbert quickly made it clear how he feels about trade to Bengals

Khalil Herbert issues a message after the big Bengals trade.

New Cincinnati Bengals running back Khalil Herbert didn’t waste time sending a message after news of his trade broke.

Herbert posted a simple message on social media a mere minutes after the news went public: “Thank you God 🙏🏾🐅 #WhoDey.”

Hard to blame Herbert, a former sixth-round pick who wasn’t getting a ton of looks on a 4-4 Chicago Bears squad.

Now, Herbert arrives on a contender and projects to have a big role in Joe Burrow’s offense as early as this Thursday in Baltimore. He’ll be an immediate rotational piece with Chase Brown now that Zack Moss is out for an extended period of time.

Herbert can rest assured that Bengals fans feel the same way after the front office made a stunningly rare decision to acquire talent at the trade deadline.

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Instant analysis after Bengals trade for Bears RB Khalil Herbert

The Bengals make a splash at the NFL trade deadline.

The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have much of a choice at the NFL trade deadline, making a splash by acquiring Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert.

Cincinnati, facing the loss of Zack Moss for an extended time, traded a seventh-round pick for Herbert.

Herbert, a sixth-round pick in 2021, is an ideal fit in the Joe Burrow-led offense. He averages 4.8 yards per carry for his career and has caught 45 passes through the air.

This is a net massive win for the Bengals, as Herbert has one year left on his current deal and it checks in at less than $1 million.

It’s refreshing to see the Bengals get aggressive like this, even if it is just trading away a late-round pick. The front office doesn’t usually acquire players at the deadline, so this is a big deal.

And, if nothing else, it beats the typical “acquire a practice squad player” or sign a free agent off the street who might not be ready. Herbert is and should be able to immediately rotate with Chase Brown, perhaps as early as this Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Herbert was one of many running backs listed as potential additions for the Bengals at the deadline.

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Could potential trade target give Pittsburgh three-headed RB monster?

While WR is a big area of concern for Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, the team should inquire about Chicago’s RB Khalil Herbert.

The Steelers’ RB room could go from great, to unstoppable with a potential trade for Chicago Bears RB Khalil Herbert.  Fans of the Steel City understand the team’s identity on offense and what they do well—running the football.  Third-string Steelers’ RB and kick returner, Cordarrelle Patterson, has been injured for the past four Steelers’ contests, forcing the the team to rely on practice squad elevations to alleviate depth concerns.

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren form one of the most deadly rushing attack tandems in the league today, and a cheap trade for Herbert could make this Steelers offense even deadlier.

As Herbert has been used sparingly by Chicago, he would likely be relatively cheap to acquire. Steelers’ General Manager Omar Khan has a track record of acquiring great talent for far less than their expected market value, and Herbert could be seen as a layup for the Pittsburgh GM.

An acquisition of Herbert takes nothing away from the team’s need for a WR trade at the November 5th deadline, but makes all the difference in adding another dynamic playmaker to the running game.

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Fantasy Football: 10 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Isaac Guerendo and Tyrone Tracy highlight this week’s list of running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire.

The San Francisco 49ers are going into their bye this week, and there’s some hope that star running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) could be set to return in Week 10. Meanwhile, fellow Niners running back Jordan Mason is now nursing a reaggravated shoulder injury.

With McCaffrey’s status still uncertain and Mason injured, Isaac Guerendo is the top running back to target on the fantasy football waiver wire this week. Even if CMC returns after the bye, Guerendo could serve as the RB2 if Mason misses any time.

Elsewhere on the fantasy football waiver wire, Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix (37%) is suddenly a hot target at quarterback, Cedric Tillman (16%) is turning heads at wide receiver and Taysom Hill (20%) is a popular streaming option at tight end.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of ten running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Isaac Guerendo (4%): He’s on a bye this week, but Guerendo could be a crucial handcuff in the second half of the season and if CMC and Mason are ever sidelined, Guerendo is the next man up.

2. RB Tyrone Tracy (47%): Devin Singletary is back healthy, but Tracy remains the RB1 in New York. He dominated the team’s backfield touches on Monday Night Football with 20 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown. Tracy’s concussion status should be monitored, but he is a priority add off the waiver wire this week.

3. RB Tyler Allgeier (51%): Allgeier is sharing touches with Bijan Robinson. Allgeier got 12 carries on Sunday and Robinson got 13. Robinson (seven targets) is much more involved in the passing game, but Allgeier has standalone value as Atlanta’s RB2.

4. RB Braelon Allen (25%): The Jets are a mess, but Allen (12 carries) remains in the mix alongside Breece Hall (16 carries). He’s a potential flex play or an RB2 candidate in deep leagues. 

5. RB Khalil Herbert (5%): He was a healthy scratch on Sunday, but with the NFL’s trade deadline approaching, Herbert could get a fresh start soon. Herbert is worth stashing in case he lands on a RB-needy team.

6. RB Ray Davis (17%): James Cook is the guy in Buffalo, but Davis is an important handcuff with some standalone value.

7. RB Blake Corum (17%): Corum is another important handcuff behind Kyren Williams.

8. RB Trey Benson (17%): Completing the handcuff trio is Benson, who is an important stash behind James Conner, who has never played a full season.

9. RB Keaton Mitchell (4%): He returned to practice last week and could be on track to return to the active roster last week. Mitchell is worth stashing in deep leagues.

10. RB Kimani Vidal (7%): He’s mostly a handcuff behind J.K. Dobbins right now, but Vidal has made the most of his limited touches with the Chargers.

Bonus RBs: Tank Bigsby (69%), Bucky Irving (69%), Jaylen Warren (62%) and Jonathon Brooks (60%) are already rostered in most leagues, but double-check just to make sure they’re not still available in your league. 

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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