Fantasy Football Rankings Week 2: Top 7 Running Backs on Waiver Wire

Football is becoming a passing league. Fourteen quarterbacks threw for over 300 yards in Week 1.

It's apparent that when your fantasy football draft takes place, you now think to draft a QB first. Just six years ago, when Shaun Alexander, Larry Johnson and Ladainian Tomlinson were grinding their way to monster numbers, common sense pointed to taking a running back with your first pick.

Well, times are changing.

But despite the fact that QB's, and even some WR's, are chosen before the best RB's, the RB still remains a vital part of your fantasy football roster.

With the exception of QB's, RB's are the most reliable options for fantasy output.

Running backs can be fragile at times. Even with the NFL transcending into a league where teams rely on two running backs, the wear and tear on halfbacks cannot be understated.

Numerous backs in Week 1 suffered serious injuries that will likely shelve them for Week 2.

Knowshon Moreno and Steven Jackson are just a couple of them.

Due to injuries/inconsistency showed by your starting running backs, here are the top seven running backs on the waiver wire entering Week 2.

Willis McGahee

It's looking more and more likely that Knowshon Moreno will be unable to start for the Broncos this Sunday vs. the Bengals due to a hamstring injury.

Moreno stunk it up on Monday night, carrying the ball eight times for 22 yards and a lost fumble. Denver was forced to pass the ball 46 times with Kyle Orton due to the running game's ineptitude.

Willis McGahee is likely to start in Moreno's place.

What does that mean?

Well, given that the Broncos are one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL, it could mean that McGahee has a game similar to the one Moreno had on Monday night.

What it could also possibly mean is that McGahee has a good fantasy game, even if he puts up below average yards in the rushing game.

McGahee was signed to a four-year contract before the season started to be Denver's red-zone/short-yardage back. Even if Denver proves to be mediocre at best on the ground against the Bengals, McGahee should find his way into the end zone at least one time.

Don't expect McGahee to carry your fantasy team, but he is a valuable option to have if your running back situation is a little iffy.

Daniel Thomas

Everybody knows Reggie Bush is a great all-around threat. However, when it comes to rushing the football, Bush is below average.

Bush was clearly gassed in Miami's shootout loss to the Patriots on Monday night. He carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards.

Bush is a player who will make contributions for the Dolphin offense by playing receiver, contributing occasionally as a returner, and catches passes out of the backfield.

The real running back of the Dolphins in 2011 will be Daniel Thomas.

Thomas missed the first week of the season, but is expected to play in Week 2.

The Dolphins face the Texans, who absolutely manhandled the Colts in every way imaginable.

Like most waiver-wire acquisitions, this could go either way.

It really all depends on how healthy Thomas truly is. It also depends on the flow of the game itself.

If Miami is to get into a shootout with the Texans, as they did vs. the Patriots, Thomas shouldn't have much of an impact. Miami will abandon it's ground game and immediately go for the vertical attack.

Arian Foster is supposedly returning for Houston this week. If Houston goes to a ground game, expect Miami to counter with the same exact thing.

If this is to be the case, Daniel Thomas should have a solid game.

Cadillac Williams

This is the best bet out of all these options listed in this article.

Cadillac Williams gained 91 rushing yards, to go along with 49 receiving yards in Week 1 in relief of an injured Steve Jackson.

Williams faces a Giants defense that seems to be heading in the same direction as 2010. The Giants gave up 28 points to the Redskins and 15 points to opposing running backs.

If Williams is to get the nod, Cadillac should have a fine game.

Expect his numbers to be better than they were in Week 1. Bradford is banged up with a finger injury, so St. Louis might lean on the running game a little bit more this week.

Ricky Williams

This is a risky option.

Ricky Williams is in a situation where his role is clear. He is the backup to Ray Rice, and really nothing will change that.

Ricky Williams had a stellar debut. Williams averaged 5.3 yards a carry and had 63 yards rushing.

Williams looked as if he will be a player that gets a lot of reps in 2011.

The problem with this is, was this a one-week phenomenon, or is this a sign of things to expect for the rest of the season?

If it's the first option, Williams really doesn't have much fantasy value until Rice suffers an injury.

If it's the latter, Williams has fantasy value for the rest of the season.

Baltimore has tended to spread the ball around amongst his running backs. From 2008-2010, Baltimore spread the carries around to three different running backs with McGahee, LeRon McClain and Ray Rice.

Is Williams worth picking up off the waiver wire? Yes. Is he somebody to start and expect fantasy points out of in Week 2? No.

Danny Woodhead

Woodhead was a fan favorite last season.

Standing at 5'8" tall, and looking no more than your average man, Woodhead had an excellent season.

Woodhead averaged 5.6 yards a carry, while gaining 547 yards on the ground.

Woodhead led New England running backs in carries and yards with 14 carries for 69 yards.

Woodhead is worth picking up off of the waiver wire, but don't start him with the expectation that he'll make you proud.

Woodhead is the current backup to BenJarvus Green-Ellis. New England never commits to a single running back in their rushing attack.

Woodhead may get the majority of carries some weeks, but when it comes to touchdowns, it's either Brady throwing them or Ellis rushing for them.

Keep that in mind when you stash Woodhead on your roster.

Lance Ball

This is another Broncos running back.

Lance Ball is on here because he continues to find a roster spot on the Denver Broncos, despite being an unheralded player.

He's also on here because of the Broncos' inconsistent rushing attack.

McGahee can easily falter early if Moreno is unable to play.

If this is the case, expect the Broncos to give the ball to the younger, and more explosive Lance Ball.

Ball had a touchdown reception vs. the Raiders in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos like utilizing Ball occasionally on third downs.

Lance Ball is worth stashing on your roster for this week only.

Deji Karim

Karim is a sleeper.

Barring a major injury to Maurice Jones-Drew, Karim will always be the backup.

However, with the release of David Garrard, Jacksonville is more dependent than ever upon it's run game.

As NFL teams progress more and more into using two running backs, players such as Karim will have value.

Karim had 14 carries vs. Tennessee. That was only 10 less than Jones-Drew.

Expect Karim to have a similar workload as the season progresses, as Jacksonville aims to keep Jones-Drew fresh after offseason knee surgery.

Karim is worth stashing on your bench heading into Week 2 while he's still available.