Welcome back to the “Handcuff Report.” This is my fourth season covering this for FantasyPros. If you’re new here, this article is a brief snapshot of every backfield from around the league with nuggets on snap rates, carries and my own thoughts from the week that was.
This is a forward-thinking article as well, so there will be times when I recommend getting out in front of a situation to pick up a player. Let’s dig in following Week 1!
Fantasy Football Running Back Handcuff Rankings (Week 2)
Arizona
- Starter: James Conner
- Handcuff: Keaontay Ingram
James Conner was about what you’d expect, rushing 14 times for 62 scoreless yards. He also managed five receptions but turned those into only eight yards. He will get volume as long as he’s healthy, as he played over 80% of the snaps. Keontay Ingram is locked in as the handcuff for the Cardinals, but this offense was uninspiring on Sunday.
Atlanta
- Starter: Bijan Robinson
- Handcuff: Tyler Allgeier
Arthur Smith hates your fantasy team and doesn’t care if that bothers you. Tyler Allgeier out-touched Bijan Robinson 18-16 and scored two short-yardage touchdowns. Robinson had a highlight reel score of his own, putting a defender on skates and then breaking a tackle on his way to the end zone. As crazy as it sounds, this might end up being a committee, although the smart money would be on Robinson being the feature back at some point. He had a whopping 35% target share, and if he gets 25 touches in a bell-cow role, look out.
Baltimore
- Committee: Gus Edwards, Justice Hill
You have to feel for J.K. Dobbins, who suffered a torn Achilles Sunday, ending his season. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill split snaps pretty evenly after the injury, but Hill scored two touchdowns. Hill only had nine yards on eight carries, but he would seem to fit what Todd Monken wants to do offensively more than Edwards does. We will watch and see if Baltimore brings someone in this week.
Buffalo
- Starter: James Cook
- Handcuff: Damien Harris
The Bills play tonight at the Jets, but it will be interesting to see the snap share between these two. James Cook would appear to have the early lead in terms of touch share, but Harris could be the goal-line back.
Carolina
- Starter: Miles Sanders
- Handcuff: Chuba Hubbard
Miles Sanders put together a volume-boosted RB2 day, finishing with 96 total yards on 22 touches (four receptions) on 58% of the snaps. If he gets that type of workload and sprinkles in double-digit scores (he played both of the Panthers snaps inside the 10), he will be plenty useful for fantasy this year. For his part, Hubbard was efficient with nine carries for 60 yards, and he added two receptions to boot. He is a top-flight handcuff.
Chicago
- Starter: Khalil Herbert
- Handcuffs: D’Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson
Khalil Herbert was the de facto lead back, handling 13 total touches (four receptions) on a 47% snap share, but the Bears were shut down on Sunday. Both D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson rotated in, but it was Johnson who ended up scoring late in the game. That was probably because it was a blowout. Herbert should continue to get lead-back touches, but I think Johnson will take over by Week 10, as the Bears look like a team destined for another top-five pick.
Cincinnati
- Starter: Joe Mixon
- Handcuff: Chris Evans
The Bengals had the worst loss of Joe Burrow‘s career on Sunday and barely had 150 total yards offensively. If there was a bright spot, you could point to Joe Mixon, who tallied 73 scoreless yards on 16 carries. Mixon played 65% of the snaps, so he should be in line for a similar workload he had in 2022. The real question here is whether or not Chris Evans can carve out a role on passing downs like Samaje Perine did. If he cannot, Mixon could easily outproduce his ADP.
Cleveland
- Starter: Nick Chubb
- Handcuff: Jerome Ford
Nick Chubb went over 100 yards rushing and added four receptions for 21 yards in Week 1. The receiving line was encouraging, and if he can add four or five catches a week, he may finish as the overall RB1. Jerome Ford chipped in 15 carries, although seven came with the game well in hand. There is a clear hierarchy in Cleveland, and it appears Ford would get the first crack at things if Chubb were to go down.
Dallas
- Starter: Tony Pollard
- Handcuff: Rico Dowdle
Tony Pollard got 73% of the snaps Sunday night, totaling 16 touches for 82 total yards and scoring two of the Cowboys’ offensive touchdowns. Pollard is in for a big year. Rico Dowdle cleaned up behind him and would be the early-down option if something were to happen with Pollard’s availability. Keep an eye on KaVontae Turpin here, as the Cowboys schemed some early touches for him last night.
Denver
- Starter: Javonte Williams
- Handcuff: Samaje Perine
Javonte Williams had encouraging usage in his first game back from an ACL tear, garnering 17 touches (four receptions). His 57 scoreless yards were disappointing, and it appears Samaje Perine will have a definite role this year, playing 45% of the snaps. Denver didn’t look great offensively as Russell Wilson struggled to sustain drives. Even so, Perine is one of the best handcuffs in fantasy and might have more upside than Williams if given a feature role.
Detroit
- Starter: David Montgomery
- Handcuff: Jahmyr Gibbs
Detroit’s game plan was to run David Montgomery into the line 20+ times in hopes he would get three or four yards a pop. The plan worked, and he added a touchdown to give himself an RB2 finish on the week. Montgomery is what he is at this point: Serviceable but with more floor than ceiling. Jahmyr Gibbs was a stumble away from adding a touchdown of his own. Despite being out-snapped almost three-to-one, he would have outscored Montgomery had he hit chalk. Be patient with Gibbs, as he will be a difference-maker this year.
Green Bay
- Starter: Aaron Jones
- Handcuff: A.J. Dillon
Green Bay blasted the Bears on Sunday, and Aaron Jones had a hand in two touchdowns, including a 51-yard catch-and-run score to put things away. Jones pulled up as he got into the end zone and grabbed his hamstring, so his status is worth monitoring this week. A.J. Dillon was stuffed at the goal line in the second half and didn’t do much (13 carries for 19 yards). That said, if Jones misses Week 2, Dillon would become a must-start.
Houston
- Starter: Dameon Pierce
- Handcuff: Devin Singletary
It was a disappointing opener for Dameon Pierce, who rushed for just 38 yards on 11 carries. It was a tough matchup in Baltimore, but the Texans showed some fight early, and C.J. Stroud didn’t look completely overmatched. Pierce should be fine as an RB2 this year, and his two receptions are a positive sign. Devin Singletary was the clear No. 2 running back Sunday for Houston and is entrenched as the handcuff here.
Indianapolis
- Starter: Jonathan Taylor (On IR)
- Handcuff: Deon Jackson
The Colts rushing output came mostly by way of Anthony Richardson, who had 40 yards on the ground. Deon Jackson did get the start and finished with 13 carries on a 72% snap share. It is hard to recommend either one of Jackson or Evan Hull if healthy as more than a desperation play this early in the season. Still, if you want to bet on volume, Jackson is your play. I am excited to see Jonathan Taylor in the same backfield as Richardson once the former returns.
Jacksonville
- Starter: Travis Etienne
- Handcuff: Tank Bigsby
Travis Etienne had a whopping 23 touches Sunday (five receptions), going over 100 total yards and scoring a touchdown. He looks like he may be one of the better value picks of draft season. Tank Bigsby vultured a touchdown but was otherwise mediocre, with just 13 yards on seven carries. If Etienne were to miss time, Jamal Agnew would factor in here some. This is a situation to monitor as far as the handcuff scenario goes.
Kansas City
- Starter: Isiah Pacheco
- Handcuff: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon
It was a disaster of a game for the Chiefs on opening night, as they fell to the Lions and looked out of sorts offensively. Pacheco is the lead back here, getting 12 touches (four receptions), but McKinnon was a non-factor with just one catch. I can’t see McKinnon falling out of favor here, but Edwards-Helaire started and received the first two carries of the game. In 14-team leagues and deeper, he is worth a look.
Las Vegas
- Starter: Josh Jacobs
- Handcuff: Zamir White
Las Vegas picked up where they left off in 2022, giving Josh Jacobs 21 touches on Sunday, playing 80% of the snaps. Despite the volume, he was disappointing overall, but this was a difficult matchup against a tough Denver team. Zamir White has a lot of handcuff appeal here. The former Georgia Bulldog would presumably step into a 15+ touch role if Jacobs were to miss time, although Ameer Abdullah will also be involved. We saw last year with Derek Carr when the Raiders fell out of contention, they moved on. The same could happen here with Jacobs if things get ugly late in the year. White should be on your radar.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Starter: Austin Ekeler
- Handcuff: Joshua Kelley
It’s worth monitoring that Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley both received 16 carries on Sunday. Ekeler went over 100 yards and scored a touchdown, but Kelley had a strong game, finishing with 91 yards and a score of his own on a 45% snap share. Ekeler is probably the fantasy RB2 right now behind Christian McCaffrey, but I think Kelley’s usage is worth monitoring. The Chargers may want to keep Ekeler fresh as the season wears on, which could lead to increased touches for Kelley.
Los Angeles Rams
- Committee: Kyren Williams (Pickup this week), Cam Akers
Cam Akers out-touched Kyren Williams 22-15, but Williams saw the majority of the snaps (67% share) and scored two touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line. The Rams had a great game plan on Sunday, and Williams was one of the beneficiaries. It appears that this will be a committee backfield moving forward. Williams is worth an add this week.
Miami
- Committee: Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. (on IR), De’Von Achane
After De’Von Achane was a surprise inactive, Raheem Mostert saw 47 snaps and 12 touches for 50 yards and a touchdown. Miami ended up in a shootout, which led to 45 Tua Tagovailoa pass attempts, tempering the rushing output. Despite his 74% snap share, Mostert disappointed from a fantasy standpoint. Once Jeff Wilson Jr. is back, we will have to see how things shake out, but this is shaping up to be an ugly committee.
Minnesota
- Starter: Alexander Mattison
- Handcuff: Ty Chandler
Alexander Mattison played 73% of the snaps and had a receiving touchdown, so despite a paltry yardage total (44 yards), there are positive signs with him. I expect the Vikings to be better offensively as they start to find themselves, and Mattison should be just fine. Ty Chandler is the back to have if you are protecting your Mattison investment, as he was the only other Minnesota back to log a carry.
New England
- Starter: Rhamondre Stevenson
- Handcuff: Ezekiel Elliott
Rhamondre Stevenson salvaged his day with a 6-64 receiving line, giving him one of the best weekly floors in fantasy. His snap share (74%) was healthy, and he took both snaps inside the 10-yard line as well. Ezekiel Elliott led the Patriots in rushing yards but lost a fumble. He would need to fall into the end zone (maybe more than once) to have fantasy relevance.
New Orleans
- Committee: Jamaal Williams, Alvin Kamara (Suspended)
Jamaal Williams had the backfield mostly to himself Sunday, playing on 77% of the snaps. He had 18 carries for 45 scoreless yards, which is where he might struggle to be fantasy-relevant for the Saints. Taysom Hill will likely steal some of the short-yardage work this year, which puts a major dent in Williams’ overall ceiling because he is so touchdown-dependent. That said, he should be good for 15-20 touches until Alvin Kamara returns.
New York Giants
- Starter: Saquon Barkley
- Handcuff: Matt Breida
There’s not much to say here, as the Giants were destroyed Sunday night by Dallas. Saquon Barkley settled into his typical bell-cow role, but there isn’t much to glean from a game that was, for intents and purposes, over by the second quarter. It could be a long year for the Giants on offense.
New York Jets
- Committee: Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook
The Jets will roll out a two-back system tonight, with Dalvin Cook making his New York debut. Breece Hall will be brought along slowly, a luxury the signing of Cook has afforded them.
Philadelphia
- Starter Kenneth Gainwell
- Handcuff: Boston Scott, D’Andre Swift
Maybe the Eagles were being serious about Kenneth Gainwell’s status as the starter. They gave him 62% of the snaps, and he was the only Philadelphia running back with any type of clearly defined role on Sunday. Neither Boston Scott nor D’Andre Swift could get much traction in limited playing time. Swift was a popular name during draft season, and this is just a one-game sample, but things did not look great for him in Week 1.
Pittsburgh
- Starter: Najee Harris
- Handcuff: Jaylen Warren
The Steelers were the biggest disappointment of Week 1, getting embarrassed at home by the 49ers. Neither Najee Harris nor Jaylen Warren did anything of note Sunday, evenly splitting 16 total touches. Harris is the starter here, but Warren is hot on his tail and would be a capable replacement, assuming you want a piece of the dumpster fire that is Matt Canada’s offense.
Seattle
- Starter: Kenneth Walker
- Handcuff: Zach Charbonnet
Kenneth Walker played well ahead of Zach Charbonnet, out-touching the rookie 16-3. Seattle found itself in an early hole and never recovered, which might be part of the reason for Charbonnet’s lack of usage. I think Walker will maintain an edge early in the season and, if he produces, should remain the lead back here. Charbonnet is obviously one of the best handcuffs in fantasy.
San Francisco
- Starter: Christian McCaffery
- Handcuff: Elijah Mitchell
There is a reason Christian McCaffrey is the RB1 in fantasy, and Sunday was a clinic for him. He rushed for 152 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown scamper that essentially put to rest any idea of a Steelers comeback in the second half. McCaffrey is so valuable because he can score fantasy points in many different ways. He can play as a receiver or, as evidenced on Sunday, bust a long run to break a game open. Elijah Mitchell ran as the clear No. 2 back here and has a great track record as well. He is probably on a roster in your league, but if he isn’t, he is a strong handcuff to have.
Tampa Bay
- Starter: Rachaad White
- Handcuff: Sean Tucker
Rachaad White played 79% of the snaps and out-touched Sean Tucker 17-7. Despite the disappointing yardage total (49 yards), all signs are pointing toward White having a big role for the Buccaneers this year. Hopefully, Tampa Bay can get him some additional work in the passing game to unlock his potential as a PPR RB1.
Tennessee
- Starter: Derrick Henry
- Handcuff: Tyjae Spears
If I told you Tyjae Spears would out-snap Derrick Henry on Sunday, you would probably not believe it. That is exactly what happened, and although Henry finished with 119 total yards on 17 touches, this isn’t the type of workload we’ve come to expect here. Tennessee has talked about trying to keep Henry fresh as he turns 30 in January, and this might be their last viable push with the current roster. If they stick with the plan there, Henry might not start getting 25+ touches until December. This is good for fantasy playoff plans but bad for teams who drafted him, hoping to get that volume from the start.
Washington
- Starter: Brian Robinson
- Handcuff: Antonio Gibson
Brian Robinson has separated himself pretty clearly here, as he had 20 total touches and even had a receiving score. I don’t know that the pass on his touchdown was intended for Robinson, but we’ll take it. Gibson played as the No. 2 but had a brutal fumble in the first half. Don’t be surprised if Chris Rodriguez leaps Gibson, especially if the latter has fumbling issues.
Handcuff Rankings
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET)
- Samaje Perine (DEN
- Chuba Hubbard (CAR)
- Zach Charbonnet (SEA)
- Elijah Mitchell (SF)
- Tyler Allgeier (ATL)
- Jaylen Warren (PIT)
- A.J. Dillon (GB) – Monitor Aaron Jones this week.
- Tyjae Spears (TEN)
- Joshua Kelley (LAC)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.
