The term “handcuff” has become a universal one in the Fantasy Football world and refers to a player behind another player on a depth chart. “Handcuffs” are almost always tied to running backs for Fantasy Football, and are the players who would rise if something were to happen to the lead running back on a roster. This could be a role taken over if a running back is injured, traded, or potentially underperforming. Hitting on one of your running back handcuffs could mean huge Fantasy Football impacts in terms of winning matchups and simply having more positional depth.
For this piece, I am avoiding mentioning running backs whom I currently perceive as committee running backs. A committee running back means that there is more than one running back on a team who is getting consistent touches, with no major volume differences. Examples of running backs I currently project to be in a committee are Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton for the Chargers, Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. for the Giants, TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson for the Patriots, and RJ Harvey with JK Dobbins for the Broncos. As we get closer and closer to the season, it will be easier to decipher running back room roles vs projecting it here in June. The below list is running backs who are the second guy in their system, who could have huge Fantasy Football impacts if they fall into work during the season, that you should consider targeting in future drafts.
Top 10 Running Back Handcuffs for Fantasy Football in 2025
1. Jordan Mason, Vikings
Back in March, the Vikings acquired Jordan Mason from the 49ers in exchange for a 2025 pick swap along with a 2026 sixth-round pick. Mason led all running backs who rushed under 200 times last season in 20+ yard rushing plays. Mason had a huge opportunity last season with the injuries of Christian McCaffrey, and averaged the opening four weeks: 22.75 rushing attempts, 111.75 rushing yards, 4.88 yards per carry, 0.75 rushing touchdowns, and 18.6 Fantasy Points. Mason will now back up 30-year-old Aaron Jones, who had a solid 2024 season in year one in Minnesota. Mason is a guy who could create somewhat of a committee with Jones, but as of today, I will project him as a handcuff.
2. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III played 11 games in 2024, which meant Zach Charbonnet had some games with the lead role, and he thrived. Charbonnet played at least 75% of the snaps in six games last season, and averaged during that span: 15.17 rushing attempts, 72.17 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 3.83 targets, 3.17 catches, 28.17 receiving yards, and 19.2 Fantasy Points. For some context, only five running backs averaged 19 or more Fantasy Points on the season. Kenneth Walker III for me is still the clear RB1, and while Charbs may factor in, we can at least note that he has major upside if he takes on the lead role for the Seahawks.
3. Ray Davis, Bills
The Bills selected Ray Davis in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Davis finished with:
- Six weeks of 10+ Fantasy Points
- 3 weeks of 14+ Fantasy Points
- 2 weeks of 17+ Fantasy Points
- 130 touches for 631 total yards
- Six total touchdowns
In Weeks 6 and 18, Davis played above 50% of the snaps and rushed for 97 / 64 yards, finished with 55 receiving yards / scored a receiving touchdown, and scored 18.2 / 14.5 Fantasy Points in those games. James Cook has contract turmoil right now to monitor, but at minimum, Davis is a handcuff with upside in a Josh Allen-led offense.
4. Trey Benson, Cardinals
The Cardinals selected Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, with many analysts viewing Benson as a top-three running back from that class. Benson played 13 games and totaled 63 rushing attempts for 291 yards, and caught six passes for 59 yards and a receiving touchdown. Benson did finish two weeks with double-digit Fantasy Points, but we did not see a ton of run from him in year one with James Conner operating as a workhorse. Conner played 16 games in 2024, which is the most he has played in his entire career due to historically missing time. Benson has traits of a workhorse back, so if Conner were to miss any time in 2025, then it could mean operating the same way Arizona deploys a healthy Conner.
5. Isaac Guerendo, 49ers
The 49ers were smacked with injuries to their running back room last season, with the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason all missing time. This meant even fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo getting some solid playing time, specifically four games played above 50% of the snaps. This is how those games went:
- Week 8: 63% of the snaps played. 14 rushing attempts for 85 yards and a rushing touchdown. Three receptions for 17 yards. 19.2 Fantasy Points
- Week 14: 56% of the snaps played. 15 rushing attempts for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Two catches for 50 yards. 26.8 Fantasy Points.
- Week 17: 61% of the snaps played. Nine rushing attempts for 34 yards. Four catches for 65 yards. 13.9 Fantasy Points.
The 2025 running back room is thin behind Christian McCaffrey, who missed nearly all of 2024. Those names include Guerendo at the top of the list, fifth-round rookie Jordan James, Patrick Taylor, and Israel Abanikanda. Guerendo thrived when given the chance last season.
6. Nick Chubb, Texans
The Texans signed Nick Chubb to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Chubb suffered a horrific knee injury back in 2023 that many did not think he would come back from. Chubb ended up returning last season to play eight games, but obviously did not look like himself, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. Chubb has finished six seasons with 5.0+ yards per carry, four seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards, two seasons with over 1,400 rushing yards, three seasons with double-digit touchdowns, and four seasons of 15.4+ Fantasy points per game (PPG). We may never see dominant Nick Chubb again, but he is further away from that injury and can be a huge asset if he is even a fraction of his former self in this Texans offense behind Joe Mixon. Mixon finished last season with over 1,300 total yards.
7. Jaylen Wright, Dolphins
The Dolphins selected Jaylen Wright in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The only real flash Wright had in 2024 was Week 5 when he rushed 13 times for 86 yards, along with four games of over 6.5 yards per carry. De’Von Achane was the clear leader in rushing attempts for the Dolphins last season with 203, while Raheem Moster, through 13 games, carried the ball 85 times, and Wright 68 times. Mostert is now gone, so Wright should be next in line on the depth chart behind Achane. Wright’s 4.38 speed fits in well with the Dolphins (when healthy) explosive offense.
8. MarShawn Lloyd, Packers
The Packers selected MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Lloyd, unfortunately, played just one game due to a series of injuries throughout the year. Emmanuel Wilson rushed the ball 103 times last season behind Josh Jacobs, who operated as a true workhorse with 301 carries. Lloyd has a combination of size, athletic traits, and collegiate efficiency that could enable him to be successful carrying the load if given the opportunity. Lloyd should work his way into that RB2 role for Green Bay, and the upside should be there should Jacobs miss any time.
9. Tyler Allgeier, Falcons
As a fifth-round rookie in 2022, Tyler Allgeier rushed 210 times for 1,035 yards. The Falcons went on to draft a monster prospect in Bijan Robinson, who relegated Allgeier to the RB2 role, but he still has managed to rush for over 640 yards in 2023 and then again in 2024. Even with Bijan’s breakout season in 2024, Allgeier had weeks of 10 (Week 4), 19.8 (Week 6), and 12.3 (Week 14) Fantasy Points. Allgeier has actually had 16 weeks of 10+ Fantasy Points and eight weeks of 15+ Fantasy Points through three seasons, so we have seen Fantasy impacts through time. The Falcons’ offense continues to take steps forward, and while Allgeier will periodically get work behind Bijan, he remains a viable starter for Fantasy should he ever take the lead RB1 role.
10. Blake Corum, Rams
The Rams selected Blake Corum in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Corum was a huge reason Michigan won a National title that year, as a workhorse who had massive volume. I will admit I was a sucker to believing there was a chance Corum could steal the job from Kyren Williams, which I will admit was a massive “L” on my end. Corum finished the year with just 65 total touches while Kyren carried the ball 316 times and caught another 34 balls to show a volume difference. The Rams did draft Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft, but I am still of the belief that Corum wins the RB2 job. The RB1 role for the Rams is one that is heavy volume, so you would want that “next man up,” and for me, it is still Corum.
Which running back handcuffs are you targeting? Let us know in the comments below.
