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Many fantasy football managers continue to fade the top options at running back in the early rounds, instead opting to deploy strategies including Zero-RB, where you punt the position for at least four rounds or through the top 20 or so options at average draft position (ADP).
Regardless of whether you're trying Zero-RB, Hero RB (one major RB drafted in the first half of the draft), or Robust RB (old-school approach of going heavy on the position), knowing the backups to chase and stash in your draft and on the waiver wire is a necessary step.
Enter the fantasy RB handcuff grid, where we track depth chart movement among every NFL backfield and itemize how it influences each team's fantasy football backfield picture during the season.
Keep scrolling to see where every NFL running back group stands. We will update this every week throughout the season.
Fantasy Football RB Handcuffs Depth Chart
Here's the key for symbols used in the fantasy NFL RB handcuffs grid:
- Fantasy RB1: The top back in name for that team's backfield
- Top Handcuff: The likely next in line should an injury or coach's decision remove the RB1. Though it's not always a direct replacement of the role, this column lists the best bet to have more volume in place of the established RB1.
- Sleepers & Role Players: The first name(s) listed are the most intriguing dart throws in the backfield if you need to dig deeper.
- (co): Committee
- WW: Waiver-wire pickup this week
- 🏥: Injured
Updated Oct. 14:
| NFL Team | Fantasy RB1 | Top Handcuff | Sleepers & Role Players |
| Arizona Cardinals | Bam Knight (co) | Michael Carter (co) | Emari Demercad 🏥, Trey Benson 🏥 IR |
| Atlanta Falcons | Bijan Robinson | Tyler Allgeier | Nathan Carter |
| Baltimore Ravens | Derrick Henry | Justice Hill | Rasheen Ali, Keaton Mitchell |
| Buffalo Bills | James Cook | Ray Davis | Ty Johnson |
| Carolina Panthers | Chuba Hubbard 🏥 | Rico Dowdle | Trevor Etienne, Jonathon Brooks 🏥 PUP-R |
| Chicago Bears | D'Andre Swift | Kyle Monangai | Roschon Johnson |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Chase Brown | Tahj Brooks | Samaje Perine |
| Cleveland Browns | Quinshon Judkins | Jerome Ford | Dylan Sampson, Raheim Sanders |
| Dallas Cowboys | Javonte Williams | Jaydon Blue | Hunter Luepke, Phil Mafah 🏥 IR-R |
| Denver Broncos | J.K. Dobbins (co) | R.J. Harvey (co) | Tyler Badie, Jaleel McLaughlin |
| Detroit Lions | Jahmyr Gibbs | David Montgomery | Craig Reynolds, Sione Vaki 🏥 |
| Green Bay Packers | Josh Jacobs | Emanuel Wilson | Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd 🏥 IR-R |
| Houston Texans | Woody Marks (co) | Nick Chubb (co) | Dare Ogunbowale, Dameon Pierce, Joe Mixon 🏥 NFI |
| Indianapolis Colts | Jonathan Taylor | DJ Giddens | Tyler Goodson 🏥 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Travis Etienne | Bhayshul Tuten | LeQuint Allen |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Isiah Pacheco (co) | Kareem Hunt (co) | Brashard Smith, Elijah Mitchell |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Ashton Jeanty | Raheem Mostert | Dylan Laube 🏥, Zamir White |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Kimani Vidal (co) | Hassan Haskins (co | Omarion Hampton 🏥 IR |
| Los Angeles Rams | Kyren Williams | Blake Corum 🏥 | Jarquez Hunter |
| Miami Dolphins | De'Von Achane | Ollie Gordon | Jaylen Wright |
| Minnesota Vikings | Jordan Mason | Zavier Scott | Cam Akers, Ty Chandler 🏥, Aaron Jones 🏥 IR-R |
| New England Patriots | TreVeyon Henderson (co) | Rhamondre Stevenson (co) | Antonio Gibson 🏥 |
| New Orleans Saints | Alvin Kamara | Kendre Miller | Devin Neal, Velus Jones Jr. |
| New York Giants | Cam Skattebo | Tyrone Tracy | Devin Singletary |
| New York Jets | Breece Hall | Isaiah Davis | Braelon Allen 🏥 IR-R, Kene Nwangwu |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Saquon Barkley | Will Shipley | A.J. Dillon, Tank Bigsby |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Jaylen Warren | Kenneth Gainwell | Kaleb Johnson, Trey Sermon |
| San Francisco 49ers | Christian McCaffrey | Brian Robinson Jr. | Isaac Guerendo, Sincere McCormick, Jordan James 🏥 |
| Seattle Seahawks | Kenneth Walker III (co) | Zach Charbonnet (co) | George Holani |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Bucky Irving 🏥 | Rachaad White | Sean Tucker, Josh Williams |
| Tennessee Titans | Tony Pollard | Tyjae Spears | Julius Chestnut, Kalel Mullings 🏥 IR-R, |
| Washington Commanders | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Chris Rodriguez | Jeremy McNichols |
2025 RB handcuff rankings: Top 50 backs to add or stash
This Top 50 list of the best backup running backs to draft may include some overlap from ongoing RB competitions, but this ideally would be a list of direct backups to draft or pick up off the waiver wire.
Assume PPR value for these handcuffs, but the rankings can be considered universal.
| Rk | RB Handcuff | TM |
| 1 | Rachaad White | TB |
| 2 | David Montgomery | DET |
| 3 | Rico Dowdle | CAR |
| 4 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL |
| 5 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA |
| 6 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE |
| 7 | Woody Marks | HOU |
| 8 | RJ Harvey | DEN |
| 9 | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT |
| 10 | Tyjae Spears | TEN |
| 11 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX |
| 12 | Kareem Hunt | KC |
| 13 | Hassan Haskins | LAC |
| 14 | Ollie Gordon | MIA |
| 15 | Brian Robinson Jr. | SF |
| 16 | Michael Carter | ARI |
| 17 | Brashard Smith | KC |
| 18 | Sean Tucker | TB |
| 19 | Justice Hill | BAL |
| 20 | Kendre Miller | NO |
| 21 | Emanuel Wilson | GB |
| 22 | Will Shipley | PHI |
| 23 | Kyle Monangai | CHI |
| 24 | Tahj Brooks | CIN |
| 25 | Isaiah Davis | NYJ |
| 26 | Ray Davis | BUF |
| 27 | Chris Rodriquez Jr. | WAS |
| 28 | Jerome Ford | CLE |
| 29 | Raheem Mostert | LV |
| 30 | DJ Giddens | IND |
| 31 | Jaydon Blue | DAL |
| 32 | A.J. Dillon | PHI |
| 33 | Tyrone Tracy | NYG |
| 34 | Dylan Sampson | CLE |
| 35 | Isaac Guerendo | SF |
| 36 | Jeremy McNichols | WAS |
| 37 | Roschon Johnson | CHI |
| 38 | Trevor Etienne | CAR |
| 39 | Zamir White | LV |
| 40 | Jaylen Wright | MIA |
| 41 | Kaleb Johnson | PIT |
| 42 | Samaje Perine | CIN |
| 43 | Jarquez Hunter | LAR |
| 44 | Blake Corum (INJ) | LAR |
| 45 | Rasheen Ali | BAL |
| 46 | Julius Chestnut | TEN |
| 47 | Dylan Laube | LV |
| 48 | George Holani | SEA |
| 49 | Tank Bigsby | PHI |
| 50 | Hunter Luepke | DAL |
RB handcuff fantasy news Week 7
- Bucky Irving is expected to miss more time, but has not been placed on IR. This is why Rachaad White still counts as a handcuff and is top of the list for Week 7.
- Omarion Hampton is being placed on IR; Kimani Vidal received the RB1 workload and is not considered a handcuff for the foreseeable future.
- In a turn of events, Bam Knight is the clear RB1 in Arizona, and Michael Carter seems to be the RB2, especially after Emari Demercado's ankle injury.
- If Chuba Hubbard remains out, fire up Rico Dowdle as the clear top handcuff again. At this point, even when Hubbard returns, you'd think the Panthers would keep Dowdle involved.
- Tyrone Tracy returned is closer to Devin Singletary than he is to Skattebo.
- Jaylen Warren is healthy, making Kenneth Gainwell the RB2 once again.
- Even with Miles Sanders being placed on season-ending IR, Jaydon Blue was hardly used in Week 6.
See which RB handcuff pickups we recommend in our Week 6 waiver wire.
What is a fantasy football handcuff running back?
Handcuff RBs are extremely valuable in fantasy football leagues. They are backup running backs for real-life NFL teams who would be in line to produce big fantasy stats should the starting RB suffer an injury, be the target of a negative coach's decision for playing time, or miss games for any other reason.
Therefore, drafting these handcuff running backs in the middle and late rounds of fantasy drafts -- and targeting them on the fantasy waiver wire -- is a popular, proactive move that could increase your chances at making your league's playoffs and maybe win a fantasy title.
For example, take top-ranked running back Bijan Robinson for the Atlanta Falcons. Should he suffer an injury and miss time his backup is Tyler Allgeier.
Due to his skill set -- a big, bruising back who's also mobile -- and his head coach Raheem Morris' high opinion of his performance, Allgeier would be in line to assume a volumnious workload for every game Robinson misses.
Lucking into situations like this requires preparation, which means drafting and adding ("stashing") running backs who could explode in value with an increased opportunity.
Paying attention to these RB handcuff rankings provides fantasy players with opportunities to improve their teams with forward-thinking player strategy.