6 Underrated RB Handcuffs for Fantasy Football in 2026

Rostering handcuffs for Fantasy Football means throwing darts at team RB2’s who could end up earning starter volume due to an injury. But not all handcuffs are built the same. Just because a backup receives volume, it does not mean that volume automatically translates into Fantasy Football upside. So knowing who to target in your Fantasy Football drafts for the topic can give you a true league edge. Here are six handcuffs for Fantasy Football that I feel are being undervalued for what they can deliver in 2026, if they fell into an opportunity.

6 Underrated RB Handcuffs for Fantasy Football in 2026

1. Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Giants)

Cam Skattebo was operating as the RB1 for the New York Giants last season for a stretch, but his season ended due to a severe right ankle dislocation, an open tibia fracture, and a ruptured deltoid ligament. Tracy stepped into the lead role and produced heavily for Fantasy Football:

• Week 11: 19 rushing attempts for 88 yards. Four receptions for 51 yards. 17.9 Fantasy Points.
• Week 12: 20 rushing attempts for 62 yards. Three receptions for 68 yards. 16.0 Fantasy Points.
• Week 15: 15 rushing attempts for 70 yards and a touchdown. Three receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown. 24.7 Fantasy Points
• Week 18: 18 rushing attempts for 103 yards. Eight receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. 27.9 Fantasy Points.

Tracy also finished seven weeks with 14+ Fantasy Points in 2024. Tracy is a dual-threat running back with proven upside when given the volume. Skattebo is coming off of a major injury, which could mean more touches early on for Tracy, and in general makes him a solid complement back or handcuff.

2. Isiah Pacheco (Lions)

Isiah Pacheco signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Lions this offseason. Pacheco started his career with promise, rushing for 830 yards in 17 games as a rookie in 2022, then rushing for 935 yards in 2023. Pacheco also caught 44 balls for 244 yards, scored nine touchdowns, and averaged 15.3 Fantasy PPG in 2023. Pacheco would then move on to play seven and 13 games for the Chiefs due to injuries, which meant being nearly irrelevant for Fantasy Football.

Isiah Pacheco will now play behind one of the league’s best running backs, Jahmyr Gibbs, but what is encouraging is the vacated David Montgomery role. Going back 2025-2023, Monty has rushed 158, 185, and 219 times and scored double-digit touchdowns in two of those seasons. Pacheco has the potential to play a complementary role, like Monty did, or at the bare minimum be a former starter turned handcuff in a great offense.

3. Brian Robinson Jr. (Falcons)

Brian Robinson signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Falcons this offseason. BRob spent the last three seasons with the Commanders before playing the RB2 role for the 49ers last season. Robinson finished all three seasons with the Commanders with over 730 rushing yards and rushed for eight touchdowns in 2024. In 2023, Robinson averaged 13.2 Fantasy PPG, which ranked inside the Top 24 Fantasy running backs.

Robinson will take on the Tyler Allgeier-vacated role. Allgeier rushed 143 times last season while playing behind one of the league’s best running backs in Bijan Robinson. Allgeier ended up scoring eight touchdowns, showing that there is some upside even when playing with Bijan. So in 2026, for Brian Robinson, he could also have some random stand-alone value, as Allgeier did, but at a minimum, would take on a huge volume if Bijan were ever out. Another former starter who has flashed plenty for Fantasy Football, now turned into a handcuff.

4. Emmett Johnson (Chiefs)

Emmett Johnson was selected by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. Johnson rushed for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, and finished his college career with 92 receptions for 702 yards. The Chiefs just paid up for Kenneth Walker III this offseason, so while there is a chance Johnson can create somewhat of a committee, it is more likely he is a solid handcuff.

Johnson has proven dual-threat abilities, has an explosive initial burst, solid vision and patience, and is workhorse workload ready. In any world where something happened to KWIII, Johnson would have a huge role in a great offense and would have clear Fantasy Football major impacts. Plug-and-play sort of upside.

5. Mike Washington Jr. (Raiders)

Mike Washington Jr. was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Arkansas. Washington rushed for 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025 and finished his career with 73 catches for 470 yards. Washington has breakaway, home run speed and posted excellent scores at the NFL Combine for all of the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, broad jump, and vertical jump.

Klink Kubiak is the new Raiders Head Coach, who implemented a two-running back system in Seattle as their Offensive Coordinator. Is there a chance we see some of that between Ashton Jeanty and Washington? Possibly. But at minimum, he is a highly athletic handcuff who could have plenty of Fantasy upside if ever given volume.

6. Adam Randall (Ravens)

The Ravens selected Adam Randall in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, out of Clemson. Randall is a 6’3, 232 lb wide receiver turned running back. Randall is a great mix of size, speed, and dual-threat abilities. Randall rushed 168 times for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025 and finished his college career with 84 receptions for 787 yards.

Randall can take on the Justice Hill pass-catching role we saw back in 2024. Henry is also 32 years old, and the Ravens have Super Bowl aspirations, so could Randall create a bigger role to preserve King Henry? Minimum, we have a running back with big size who is a handcuff for a running back with big size. Why is nobody talking about Randall?