The thing about the waiver wire is that it will sometimes go cold for a few weeks. Eventually, it reanimates and becomes useful again. It's basically a gigantic pool of players that behaves collectively like Jameson Williams.
This week, we have a few promising leads on the wire, particularly among the running backs.
RB Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders
Klint Kubiak recently warned us that he and his coaching staff were reevaluating everything, although most of us assumed he was referring only to his quarterback situation. As it turns out, Kubiak was actually contemplating a change at a position that has been a verifiable problem.
Rookie fourth-round running back Mike Washington Jr. seized the primary rushing role from Ashton Jeanty on Sunday, out-carrying the sixth overall pick in the 2025 draft by a wide margin (25 to 2). Washington also out-snapped Jeanty, 38 to 25. It should go without saying that Jeanty played his way into this predicament; he's averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and 2.67 yards after contact, rarely making the sort of plays we associate with early first-round backs.
Washington was not unusually impressive in the Jets game, we should note. He gained just 83 yards on his 25 attempts and was stonewalled on the goal-line. He carried the ball six times inside the 5-yard line and never converted. We can't rule out the possibility that Jeanty might eventually reclaim the featured role, but, for now, he's merely a receiving back on the light side of a committee.
RB Seth McGowan, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis is a ghost team rattling around the league, making spooky sounds but ultimately scaring no one. They have entered sell-and-tank mode, clearly willing to flip veterans for picks. Jonathan Taylor seems likely to be dealt somewhere ahead of the November 10 trade deadline, which would leave McGowan atop the Colts' backfield hierarchy. He's been good after contact, a decisive runner who can pick up messy yards when needed. Of course if he becomes the top back in Indy, he's going to be the featured runner for a dreadful team. It's not a perfect situation, but we'll be flexing him all the same.
RB Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Purely as a talent, I like Johnson better than anyone else we're discussing today — certainly better than the other two running backs. I also like him more than last week's must-have back, Jonah Coleman. He's probably been the most impressive back in the 2026 rookie class. No one else is breaking off runs like this:
oooooh weeeeeee Emmett Johnson pic.twitter.com/t3p3DVe7ve
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 1, 2026
Absurd. That's five missed tackles on a single run for this freak. He's awesome.
The one fantasy negative with Johnson is of course the fact that you absolutely can't start him, because his role is minimal. Alas. But he's easily my favorite RB stash in the player pool. If Kenneth Walker were to miss a game for any reason, Johnson is an easy top-10 back for me. I've seen enough.
WR Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets
Each week, some Jets pass-catcher who isn't Garrett Wilson is going to go off and you will always guess wrong. On Sunday, Adonai Mitchell played the game of his lift, hauling in seven balls for 142 yards and one score. We've also seen spike weeks from Kenyon Sadiq, Mason Taylor and Omar Cooper this season, so it's basically a spin-the-wheel situation. Mitchell's talent is obvious, so he plainly deserves a spot on someone's roster in a 12-team leagues. We just can't say with great certainty that volume is guaranteed. Also, the upcoming matchup at Kansas City is less than ideal.
WR Treylon Burks, Washington Commanders
How can you not root for this gentleman? He's a former first-round pick, written off as a bust. It's been a long road, beset by injuries and struggles. But Burks is hanging around and he's recently become a pretty important contributing member of Washington's receiving corps. He's caught seven passes for 147 yards over his last two games and he's routinely playing 60-plus percent of the offensive snaps. Rookie Antonio Williams has received significantly more buzz, but he's not an obviously better option than Burks moving forward.
QB Malik Willis and WR Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins
Willis is headed into a series of friendly matchups that might just elevate him into the top-12 scorers at his position by the time the calendar flips to December. His next four games are against the Lions, Colts, Bills and Jets. This is a fully accredited member of the dual-threat QB club, and he's demonstrated an ability to put up acceptable passing stats against defenses that aren't the Vikings. Willis is a fine replacement option for those who just lost Lamar Jackson (likely for the season).
Also, I will simply remind you that rookie receiver Caleb Douglas is a playmaker. He's 6-foot-4 with 4.39 speed and he manages to do something notable (in a good way) every time he takes the field. You are of course under no obligation to start any Miami Dolphins receiver. But if you do, this is the guy to get.