Week 1 is in the books, and we (thankfully) did not see any major injuries to running backs. We did witness some separation of a few backfields, however, as well as some spots where the presumed backup actually ended up as the starter. For this week’s handcuff tiers, here is what I am looking at for potential fantasy goodness:
- Path to a Featured Role: Does the backup have a realistic opportunity to see increased usage? Is the starter injured, declining or at risk of losing touches?
- Three-Down Capability: If elevated, can the handcuff actually handle carries, targets and pass protection to sustain a full workload?
- Schedule and Offensive Context: Will the offense create opportunities for fantasy production, and are there exploitable matchups in the coming weeks?
- Standalone Value: Even without an injury, can the back be flexed in PPR formats or relied on for occasional usability?
These criteria provide a framework to tier handcuff running backs not just by talent, but by the real-world paths that lead to fantasy relevance. In other words, we’re not just looking for backups. We’re looking for players who could step into your starting lineup and contribute.
- Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Running Back Handcuff Rankings
Tier 1: Roster Everywhere
1. Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)
Zach Charbonnet out-snapped Kenneth Walker and finished with 47 yards on 12 touches, scoring Seattle’s only touchdown. He remains the top handcuff option in fantasy and may well be the starter sooner than later.
2. David Montgomery (RB – DET)
In their first game without Ben Johnson, the Lions looked awful offensively on Sunday. David Montgomery was not able to get anything going, mustering just 25 yards on the ground. He did have four catches on four targets, but Detroit has some work to do on offense.
3. Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)
Mason outperformed Aaron Jones Monday night, rushing for 68 yards and playing two more snaps than Jones. Mason will be Flex viable most weeks and would push to be a fantasy RB1 if Jones were to miss any time.
4. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – SF)
Brian Robinson Jr. was the No. 2 RB for San Francisco on Sunday, earning nine rushing attempts. Christian McCaffery‘s injury status will be a weekly monitoring item, so Robinson should be on 100% of rosters.
5. Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL)
Tyler Allgeier got 10 carries, but the Falcons struggled to run the ball against a stout Tampa Bay defense. He’s a high-floor/low-ceiling handcuff who is a near lock for 15-18 touches if Bijan Robinson goes down.
6. DJ Giddens (RB – IND)
DJ Giddens took over the running back touches in the second half of Sunday’s blowout, putting himself comfortably into must-roster territory. I wasn’t sure what the Colts would do after Jonathan Taylor, but now that Giddens looks to be the No. 2 RB, he should be an add across all formats
7. Trey Benson (RB – ARI)
Trey Benson ripped off a 52-yard run and was the Cardinals’ leading rusher. He has some work to do in order to be more consistent, but he has a measure of burst to him that James Conner does not
8. RJ Harvey (RB – DEN)
Perhaps it will not be as soon as we hope, but RJ Harvey looked like a starting running back on Sunday. I said ahead of Week 1 that I would rank him higher than Dobbins. There was nothing I saw that would change my mind. Harvey might be the closest thing to Bucky Irving we get this year.
Tier 2: A Tier Below But Still Worth Stashing
9. Ray Davis (RB – BUF)
Ty Johnson worked quite a bit on Sunday night. That was somewhat due to game flow, but Josh Allen likes throwing to his running back, so Johnson is going to have a role no matter what happens. I really haven’t changed my opinion much on Ray Davis in the hierarchy of the Buffalo backfield or on this list.
10. Cam Skattebo (RB – NYG)
Cam Skattebo’s first NFL touch was about what you would expect as he tried to run over three different Washington defenders. He is in the same boat as most of this tier in that he may not get the backfield to himself, but he certainly could do some damage if he gets 15+ touches.
11. Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT)
The Steelers can’t run the ball, which is a good thing for Kenneth Gainwell. He mixed in early and often on Sunday, finishing with 10 touches. I can’t say I saw that coming, but Arthur Smith strikes again.
12. Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX)
Bhayshul Tuten’s stock takes a hit after he played behind LeQuint Allen early in the game. I don’t think I would cut him after Week 1 because he did finish with three carries and was involved throughout the game. Still, it isn’t the runout we hoped for one of the draft’s best athletes.
Tier 3: Best of the Rest
13. Kendre Miller (RB – NO)
The Saints are going to struggle to move the ball offensively, but Kendre Miller looks like the primary backup to Alvin Kamara. I don’t know that I would rush to stash him, even as Kamara’s handcuff, but it’s worth noting that he was the No. 2 RB.
14. Rico Dowdle (RB – CAR)
Chuba Hubbard soaked up almost 90% of the touches for Carolina, while Rico Dowdle got most of the leftovers. That is the perfect situation for a handcuff, although he isn’t a priority stash.
15. Miles Sanders (RB – DAL)
Miles Sanders looked good on Thursday, popping for a 49-yard run. Should Javonte Williams go down, Sanders will get the first crack at carries in Dallas.
Thursday Night Football Handcuff Stash
I would grab Emanuel Wilson ahead of Thursday night. He should be available (he won’t go on waivers) and if something happens to Josh Jacobs, you will be ahead of the curve.
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Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.
