Fantasy football managers should take note of Denver Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman, who surged past his rookie peers with an efficient 15-touch, 16.4 PPR-point performance in Week 8. Coleman added four receptions, contrasting sharply with Las Vegas Raiders rookie Mike Washington, who managed only 8.3 PPR points on 25 touches and has just three catches all season. While Washington may be a better pure rusher, Denver's offensive environment and the presence of J.K. Dobbins only on early downs give Coleman a clearer path to PPR production. Coleman now ranks inside the top 20 running backs for Week 9 and could remain there for the rest of the season.
Key Week 9 Numbers
Tony Pollard commands 70.4% of the Tennessee Titans' rush attempts, trailing only Jahmyr Gibbs and Kenneth Walker. Derrick Henry has posted 60 or fewer scrimmage yards in three consecutive games. Coleman's 13.3% explosive rush rate ranks second among backs with at least 20 carries. Blake Corum leads qualified runners with 46.7% of his rushes gaining five or more yards. Walker has 12 carries inside the five-yard line but only two touchdowns. Ashton Jeanty remains third among running backs with 175 routes run, and Josh Jacobs has two end-zone targets in two weeks. Minnesota Vikings running backs saw no player exceed 19 snaps in Week 8, signaling a messy backfield.
Waiver Wire Targets
Tyler Allgeier (Arizona Cardinals) is in line for the majority of snaps after Jeremiyah Love went to injured reserve and Zonovan Knight suffered a head injury, though a tough matchup against Seattle looms. Mike Washington Jr. (Las Vegas Raiders) is a must-add but projects as a low-end flex in full PPR due to poor run blocking, a difficult matchup at San Francisco, and zero passing-game usage. Seth McGowan (Indianapolis Colts) is a speculative stash; if Jonathan Taylor is traded, McGowan could become a workhorse, showing comparable rushing efficiency to Taylor this season.
DFS Plays
Jonah Coleman is the top DFS play against a Carolina Panthers defense allowing over five yards per carry to opposing running backs, with a projected 12.7 points. For a contrarian option, Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) faces the New York Giants in a favorable matchup, though his high salary and the Eagles' offensive struggles may keep his roster rate low.
