Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Isaac Guerendo Emerging as a Key Season-Saving Pickup

The NFL is known as the league of “next man up,” and this principle extends to your fantasy football teams as well. While draft day sets the initial framework, it’s the strategic moves you make during the season that determine if you’ll make the playoffs or be planning for next year. Each week, we help you identify players who are rostered in over 50% of ESPN leagues and are trending as must-adds, whether as new starters or savvy bench additions.

The Impact of “Bye-Mageddon” and Key Injuries

This week marks the return of “bye-mageddon,” with teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders all on a bye. This means fantasy owners need to fill gaps left by missing high-impact players to stay competitive.

Sunday’s headlines were dominated by Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, who suffered a knee injury reportedly involving his PCL during their game against the Buffalo Bills. This could put the remainder of his season at risk, as he’s set to be placed on IR. This setback is particularly harsh, given that McCaffrey had only just returned in Week 10 after missing much of training camp and the first eight weeks of the season due to an Achilles tendon issue.

Isaac Guerendo Steps Up

Enter Isaac Guerendo, a rookie running back with just a 1.3% roster rate in ESPN leagues. Guerendo’s standout play came when he found the end zone for his first touchdown as the 49ers’ offense scrambled to fill the void left by McCaffrey’s injury. Guerendo’s sudden emergence makes him a player worth picking up as a potential league-saver. The 49ers have a favorable upcoming schedule, giving Guerendo the opportunity to become a top fantasy contributor over the next few weeks.

Other Notable Running Back Additions

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (32.5%): In the Jaguars’ matchup against the Texans, Bigsby shared a similar number of touches with Travis Etienne Jr., but Etienne’s 16 touches outpaced Bigsby’s 8. With quarterback Trevor Lawrence now dealing with a concussion, Jacksonville may rely more on their running game, which could mean increased opportunities for Bigsby as the season progresses.

Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders (11.1%): The fantasy season for Austin Ekeler appears to be effectively over, as he won’t return from IR until at least Week 18. In the recent game against the Titans, McNichols split carries with Brian Robinson Jr., contributing efficiently with six attempts for 32 yards. McNichols’ performance, combined with Robinson’s injury history, makes him a valuable pickup in deeper leagues.

Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders (0.1%): Despite the Raiders’ inconsistent season, White showed potential, racking up 64 yards on 12 carries in the most recent game. While it remains challenging to trust the Raiders’ backfield entirely, White could see an expanded role moving forward, particularly with Alexander Mattison also in the mix.

Braelon Allen, New York Jets (22.0%): With Breece Hall dealing with a knee injury and possibly facing a shutdown to safeguard his long-term health, Allen could emerge as the Jets’ go-to running back. The Jets’ upcoming schedule favors the running game, making Allen a strong candidate to be a breakout star and a fantasy league winner in the final stretch of the season.

Conclusion

As injuries and bye weeks reshape the NFL landscape, fantasy owners need to be proactive in identifying and adding players who can step up when it matters most. Isaac Guerendo is the most notable waiver-wire pickup this week, but other running backs like Tank Bigsby, Jeremy McNichols, and Braelon Allen also have the potential to make a significant impact. Keep an eye on these players as you prepare for the crucial playoff stretch in your fantasy football leagues.