Now that the NFL Draft has passed and notable free agents have signed, we have a better sense of how each team’s depth chart will look, particularly among running backs. This makes it easier to project usage for the upcoming season.
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We’re going to dive into five of the best running back handcuffs to target for the 2025 fantasy football season. The most important factor will be average draft position (ADP), since we don’t want to pay a premium for a handcuff.
You don’t want to be stuck with an overpriced handcuff that gets way less usage than expected. Just look at Blake Corum last year. We’ll define handcuff either as the second-in-line running back for touches or the secondary option in a running back committee.
We’ll use FantasyPros’ best ball ADP, which is an aggregate of player pricing from sites like Underdog, Drafters, RealTime Fantasy Sports and BestBall10s. This makes sense because best ball is the most active format at this stage of the offseason. With that in mind, here are my five of the best running back handcuffs for 2025.
Best Running Back Handcuffs
Braelon Allen (RB – NYJ) | ADP: RB54 (170.1 Overall)
Braelon Allen had 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. The former Wisconsin Badger added 19 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown in the receiving game as well. While Allen put up an underwhelming 3.6 yards per carry, we saw glimpses of a powerful runner who can make an impact between the tackles.
The appeal with Allen is that there could be some standalone value here. Breece Hall was the subject of trade rumors this past offseason. With a new coaching staff led by former Lions’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, there’s a chance we could see Allen more involved, even if Hall remains with the team. This makes sense after Glenn saw how effective Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery worked as a committee in Detroit.
The upside is that if Hall were traded or forced to miss time, Allen could step in for a lead role. The Jets have now used back-to-back first-round picks on offensive tackles, so their run-blocking is improving. Having a dual-threat quaterback like Justin Fields under center will also help in rushing efficiency. In other words, this is an offense that could run with both volume and efficiency in 2025, making Allen one of my favorite handcuffs to target.
Devin Neal (RB – NO) | ADP: RB57 (179 Overall)
The Saints selected Devin Neal in the sixth round (184th overall) in this year’s NFL Draft. He is a 5-foot-11, 213-pound back who posted 1,266 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in his final year at Kansas. Neal is a downhill runner who can win in short yardage, boasting a strong track record of college production.
There’s a reasonable chance Neal can work his way into a role as a complementary back to Alvin Kamara. While Kendre Miller is still there, he was drafted by the previous coaching staff. Kellen Moore may prefer Neal as the main back to spell Kamara. As an interior runner, Neal could complement Kamara just like Mark Ingram did for the Saints in the past.
The ceiling for Neal is that if Kamara misses time, there’s a wide-open path to playing time. Even if Kamara plays, Neal could carve out a role in short-yardage. Like the Jets, the Saints have used consecutive first-round picks on offensive tackles, so their offensive line is on the way up. Don’t worry about Neal’s sixth-round draft capital, as this was a loaded running back class that pushed some prospects down further in the draft. At a 179-pick cost, Neal looks like an appealing investment.
Will Shipley (RB – PHI) | ADP: RB67 (213 Overall)
Will Shipley rushed 30 times for 82 yards with four catches for 35 yards as a rookie. While the former Clemson running back was barely used in his first season, we have to remember he has fourth-round draft capital and can take over the Eagles’ backfield if Saquon Barkley were to miss time.
Even though there’s zero standalone value on Shipley with Barkley carrying a massive workload, we have to acknowledge the injury risk here. When you combine the regular season and playoffs, Barkley recorded 482 touches this past year. That kind of workload is unsustainable in the long run, especially for a player like Barkley, who is entering his age-28 season.
Now, I’m not saying Barkley will get hurt this season, just pointing out that there’s a bit more risk this year than last due to the extremely heavy volume. With the starting running back in an elite Eagles offense being such an appealing role, Shipley is worth a look as a handcuff, especially since he’s virtually free in drafts.
MarShawn Lloyd (RB – GB) | ADP: RB63 (203 Overall)
MarShawn Lloyd had a lot of hype coming into last season. This was a player the Packers selected in the third round of the 2024 draft. There was hope Lloyd could become the lightning to Josh Jacobs‘ thunder in this Packers’ backfield. But that didn’t happen because Lloyd dealt with an injury-riddled season.
With Jacobs thriving as the bell-cow back in Green Bay this past year, the shine has worn off Lloyd. But don’t forget about him, as he is an elusive, big-play threat who can have an impact in the passing game. Lloyd’s skillset perfectly complements Jacobs, who can do the dirty work as the interior runner.
With that in mind, there’s still a chance that a healthy Lloyd could play his way into opportunities in this Packers offense. Green Bay could use some more burst in the backfield, especially in a back who can play well in the passing game. While Lloyd isn’t a threat to Jacobs’ lead role, there’s some standalone value here with a high upside if he were forced into more usage due to injury.
Elijah Mitchell (RB – KC) | ADP: RB70 (226 Overall)
Elijah Mitchell signed with the Chiefs this past offseason. He is a capable runner who has been held back by injuries throughout his career. With Isiah Pacheco struggling to regain form after returning from injury, along with Kareem Hunt way past his prime, there’s an outside chance Mitchell could play his way into a role here.
The downside with Mitchell is that he’s a cut candidate when we get to the later stages of training camp. But there’s legitimate upside if he can make the team. Remember that no one expected Hunt to have as productive a season as he did last year. This is the kind of zero-risk investment that could pay major dividends in deeper leagues, especially in best ball.
Taking cheap shots on the Chiefs’ offense is always a good way to go, and we’ve seen Mitchell rush for 963 yards (4.7 yards per carry) back in 2021. Still only 27 years old, the former 49er looks like a worthy dart throw in the hope he can make the team and take away touches from Pacheco and/or Hunt.
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