It’s time to hit the waiver wire ahead of Week 3. These rookie running backs took a loss in Week 2, but played well enough to earn a waiver claim and a spot on most fantasy rosters. (Fantasy stats via Yahoo!Sports).
Quinshon Judkins | Cleveland Browns
Judkins led the Browns in rushing in his NFL debut, averaging 6.1 yards per carry for 61 yards while catching all three targets from quarterback Joe Flacco in the team’s 41-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
A second-round pick and the 36th player taken in the 2025 NFL draft, Judkins ran for 3,785 yards and 45 scores in three college seasons but didn’t sign with the Browns until September 6, forcing him to miss training camp and preseason games.
Judkins also remains under investigation by the NFL and could face a suspension for allegations of domestic violence that did not bring criminal charges.
That said, Judkins looked great pacing the Browns with 10 carries while earning 10.1 fantasy points. Barring a setback, he should operate as the team’s lead back when his team hosts the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Judkins remains available in 38 percent of leagues.
Cam Skattebo | New York Giants
Skattebo joined the Giants as a fourth-round pick after rushing for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns for Arizona State last season, but was limited for most of training camp with a hamstring injury. He had two carries for -3 yards in a 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 1, but still managed to win NFL Network’s Angry Runs award for his first-ever NFL reception.
The 5-foot-9, 219-pound running back had 11 carries for 45 yards in Sunday’s 40-37 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys, six more than Tyrone Tracy Jr. who led the team in rushing last season. He also scored his first touchdown after nearly scoring on a punishing 24-yard run to the one-yard line.
Skattebo is unlikely to unseat Tracy, a former wide receiver, on passing downs but he certainly should see the ball on early downs. Among rookie running backs, only TreVeyon Henderson (17.10) scored more fantasy points than Skattebo (16.80) in Week 2, making the latter a must-add for fantasy managers. Skattebo remains available in 41 percent of leagues.
Bhayshul Tuten | Jacksonville Jaguars
Fourth-year running back Travis Etienne led Jacksonville with 14 carries for 71 yards in the team’s 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but Tuten wasn’t far behind, averaging 5.3 yards per carry for 43 yards with two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
As a fourth-round pick for a team with Etienne and Tank Bigsby in the backfield, Tuten wasn’t expected to see much action in 2025, but once Bigsby was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, many assumed he’d function as the team’s No. 2 running back moving forward.
So far, so good as Tuten saw five more carries than the week before, helping him earn 15.80 fantasy points in Week 2. This week he’ll face the Houston Texans, who held Kyren Williams to 66 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and 71 yards to Bucky Irving in Monday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tuten remains available in 45 percent of leagues.