If you’re on the hunt for sleeper running backs in fantasy football, you’ll probably have both Justice Hill and Emanuel Wilson on your list.
If you had to choose one or the other, would Hill or Wilson make more sense as a waiver wire add ahead of Week 5?
Should You Add Justice Hill or Emanuel Wilson in Week 5?
Every season, the running back position is one of the most volatile in the sport. There are those who benefit from that cycle, and this season, Hill and Wilson have been two of the largest beneficiaries to this point.
The season-ending injury suffered by AJ Dillon opened the door for Wilson to become the Green Bay Packers‘ primary RB2 behind Josh Jacobs, while the absence of Keaton Mitchell freed up Justice Hill to earn a premier role alongside workhorse RB Derrick Henry.
Hill and Wilson have both been reasonably productive to this point, and both have intriguing outlooks moving forward. In Week 4, Hill had one of his best career games, amassing 96 total yards and a receiving touchdown.
Justice Hill turns on the wheels 💨
📺: #BUFvsBAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3pLzYJxlsf— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2024
Wilson, meanwhile, has steadily cut into Jacobs’ usage within the Packers’ RB rotation. Since Week 3, Wilson is only six touches behind Jacobs in total usage. In Week 3, Wilson had 12 carries to Jacobs’ 12. In Week 4, he had eight carries to Jacobs’ nine.
Wilson is nipping at Jacobs’ heels, but Hill appears to have a steady, dependable role as a complementary back to Henry in an RB-heavy Baltimore Ravens offense. So which player is the better waiver wire play moving forward in fantasy football?
Both players have opportunities on the horizon.
The Packers are playing the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5, with the latter currently having the league’s worst run defense. Los Angeles has allowed 662 yards at five yards per carry, and without a true nose tackle or quality linebacker play, they’d be particularly susceptible to Matt LaFleur’s well-constructed run scheme.
That said, the Ravens will have a favorable matchup in Week 5 as well. They play the Cincinnati Bengals, who have the eighth-worst run defense to this point in terms of total yardage.
Henry will get the lion’s share of the volume as a ball carrier, but Hill’s status as the primary receiving back gives him additional upside in Baltimore.
Hill has caught 16 passes for 161 yards and a score on 18 targets through four games. He’s on pace to accrue over 75 targets on the season, and the Ravens’ offense will continue to have space to use him as long as weapons like Zay Flowers, Isaiah Likely, Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews threaten down the field.
My preference leads slightly toward Hill on the waiver wire. Like Wilson, he’s firmly entrenched as his offense’s RB2, but he’s already established himself as a high-quality receiving threat, opening up an avenue for greater production and consistent touches.
Wilson has a healthy share of the volume in the Packers’ RB rotation. He’s a viable addition if Hill is unavailable — but Wilson’s lesser receiving versatility puts him a tier below Hill on the waiver wire list.