Fantasy Football Running Back Handcuff Rankings: Week 12 (2025)

The fantasy football playoffs are in sight, and anyone clinging to a postseason spot now has another obstacle to navigate: Injuries to a few starting running backs.

Josh Jacobs went down with a knee injury in Week 11 and didn’t return. His outlook for Week 12 looks iffy at best. Same with Jaylen Warren, who could miss Sunday’s tilt in Chicago. How long these two will be out is difficult to say, but this is why the handcuff report exists. If you are in playoff contention, you have either been lucky to have not been bitten by the injury bug or you have been proactive on waivers all year.

As we roll towards Week 12, securing handcuffs to injured running backs could provide valuable, volume-driven flex options if the starters are sidelined. That could potentially make the difference between reaching the playoffs or falling short. To prepare, here are 10 backfields to monitor as we move through the week:

Broncos: J.K. Dobbins went on IR and might be out for the season. We finally got a healthy dose of R.J. Harvey, who handled 14 touches for 50 yards. He got vultured on a touchdown run, but he had touches on three consecutive plays prior to that, so he may have just needed a breather. Harvey is an every-week RB2.
Buccaneers: Sean Tucker had 140 yards and three touchdowns against Buffalo on Sunday. I said last week he was worth the pickup due to an increased workload and a plus matchup in Buffalo. Bucky Irving‘s return looms large, and the Bucs play the Rams this week, but Tucker should be rostered everywhere.
Chargers: Kimani Vidal suffered a thigh injury Sunday as the Chargers were routed in Jacksonville. They now get a bye week, and there is a chance Omarion Hampton is back in Week 13. Vidal may not be completely phased out, but he thrives on volume, so his value would take an immediate hit.
Dolphins: Ollie Gordon II continues to get high-leverage touches, as he and De’Von Achane are essentially tied for the team lead in carries inside the 10-yard line. Gordon had a 9-45-1 rushing line on Sunday and is a Tier II handcuff at this point.
Giants: Jameis Winston was a shot of life for New York as Tyrone Tracy finished with 139 scoreless yards on 23 touches, although he left a lot of meat on the bone. Devin Singletary was the beneficiary, as he scored two short rushing touchdowns. Tracy is a viable PPR starter, and Singletary is a Flex candidate, although Sunday’s stat line is a top-5% outcome.
Jaguars: We finally get RB Bhayshul Tuten to take control of the Jacksonville backfield, only to have him suffer an injury in the second half. Prior to that, Tuten was running ahead of Travis Etienne, Jr., and he finished with 74 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. If Tuten is active this week, he is Flex worthy.
Packers: Josh Jacobs left Sunday’s game with a knee injury, leaving Emanuel Wilson as the lead back. Wilson finished with 49 total yards and a rushing touchdown on 12 touches. He will be the top waiver priority this week and should handle most of the running back work.
Patriots: TreVeon Henderson‘s breakout looks legit as he scored three touchdowns on 24 touches against the Jets. The 3.3 YPC is a little concerning because touchdowns are fluky, but if Henderson is going to get 20+ touches, he is a borderline RB1.
Steelers: Jaylen Warren got banged up and left the game with a knee injury. He did return for a couple of plays in the second half, but Kenneth Gainwell was stealing touches even early in the game. He finished with 105 total yards and two touchdowns. He also added seven receptions and was a top-5 running back in PPR leagues. If Warren is out this week, Gainwell will have plenty of PPR appeal against a mediocre Bears defense.
Texans: Woody Marks has taken complete control of the Houston backfield. He hasn’t been spectacular, but he is coming off a 19-touch game on Sunday, and now he gets the Bills, who just coughed up a monster day to Sean Tucker.

Fantasy Football Running Back Handcuff Rankings

Tier 1: Should be rostered across all formats

1. David Montgomery (RB – DET)

2. Emanuel Wilson (RB – GB)

3. Sean Tucker (RB – TB)

4. Blake Corum (RB – LAR)

5. Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)

6. Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL)

7. Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI)

8. Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT)

9. Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAC)

10. Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)

11. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – SF)

Tier 2: Less priority than Tier 1, but still worth a possible stash

12. Ollie Gordon II (RB – MIA)

13. Devin Singletary (RB – NYG)

14. Isaiah Davis (RB – NYJ)

15. Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)

16. Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)

17. Devin Neal (RB – NO)

18. Keaton Mitchell (RB – BAL)

19. Raheem Mostert (RB – LV)

20. Ty Johnson (RB – BUF)

21. Breshard Smith (RB – KC) / Kareem Hunt (RB – KC)

Thursday Night Football Handcuff Stash

I think that if James Cook were to get hurt, Ty Johnson would be the most direct beneficiary. Ray Davis has also flashed. I would lean towards picking up Johnson in PPR leagues and Davis in non-PPR leagues ahead of Thursday night.