Fantasy Football RB Handcuff Rankings: 2025 Depth charts, draft sleepers, key backups, waiver wire pickups
Many fantasy football drafters 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.
Keep scrolling to see where every NFL running back group stands as of the preseason. We will update this every week throughout the season, detailing major changes and news along the way.Ā
Fantasy Football RB Handcuffs Depth ChartBefore reading the full outline of the handcuff grid, see how these names fall in our 2025 RB draft rankings.
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 backfieldTop 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 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 throwsĀ in the backfield if you need to dig deeper.(co):Ā Committeeš„: Injuredš: Rising stock | š: Falling stockā: New RB addedNFL TeamFantasy RB1Top HandcuffSleepers & Role PlayersArizona CardinalsJames ConnerTrey BensonMichael Carter, Emari Demercado, DeeJay DallasAtlanta FalconsBijan RobinsonTyler AllgeierCarlos Washington Jr.Baltimore RavensDerrick HenryJustice HillKeaton MitchellBuffalo BillsJames CookRay DavisTy JohnsonCarolina PanthersChuba HubbardRico DowdleTrevor Etienne, Raheem BlackshearChicago BearsD’Andre SwiftRoschon JohnsonKyle MonangaiCincinnati BengalsChase BrownTahj BrooksSamaje PerineCleveland BrownsQuinshon JudkinsJerome FordDylan SampsonDallas CowboysJaydon Blue (co) š„Javonte Williams (co)Miles Sanders, Phil MafahDenver BroncosR.J. HarveyJ.K. DobbinsAudric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlinDetroit LionsJahmyr GibbsDavid MontgomeryCraig Reynolds,, Sione VakiGreen Bay PackersJosh JacobsEmanuel WilsonMarShawn Lloyd, Chris BrooksHouston TexansJoe Mixon š„Nick ChubbWoody Marks, Dameon Pierce, Dare OgunbowaleIndianapolis ColtsJonathan TaylorDJ GiddensTyler Goodson, Salvon Ahmed, Khalil HerbertJacksonville JaguarsTravis EtienneTank BigsbyBhayshul TutenKansas City ChiefsIsiah PachecoKareem HuntBrashard SmithLas Vegas RaidersAshton JeantyRaheem MostertZamir White, Sincere McCormickLos Angeles ChargersOmarion HamptonNajee Harris š„Kimani Vidal, Hassan HaskinsLos Angeles RamsKyren WilliamsBlake CorumJarquez Hunter, Ronnie RiversMiami DolphinsDe’Von AchaneJaylen WrightOllie GordonMinnesota VikingsAaron Jones (co)Jordan Mason (co)Ty ChandlerNew England PatriotsTreVeyon HendersonRhamondre StevensonAntonio GibsonNew Orleans SaintsAlvin KamaraKendre MillerDevin Neal, Cam Akers, Velus Jones Jr.New York GiantsTyrone TracyCam SkatteboDevin SingletaryNew York JetsBreece HallBraelon AllenIsaiah Davis, Kene NwangwuPhiladelphia EaglesSaquon BarkleyWill ShipleyAJ DillonPittsburgh SteelersJaylen Warren (co)Kaleb Johnson (co)Kenneth Gainwell, Trey SermonSan Francisco 49ersChristian McCaffreyIsaac Guerendo š„Jordan James š„, Patrick TaylorSeattle SeahawksKenneth Walker IIIZach CharbonnetDamien Martinez, George HolaniTampa Bay BuccaneersBucky IrvingRachaad WhiteĀ š„Sean Tucker, Josh WilliamsTennessee TitansTony PollardTyjae Spears š„Kalel Mullings, Julius ChestnutWashington CommandersBrian Robinson Jr.Austin EkelerJacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Chris RodriguezMORE: Find our favorite 2025 RB draft sleepers.
2025 RB handcuff rankingsThis 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.
We’re not yet going to count the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh Steelers, due to their ongoing competitions or relative uncertainty.
For fantasy draft season, we’re ok with duplicating our efforts to ensure that you’re maximizing your targets, so we’re including “Handcuff Plus” options like the Minnesota Vikings’ Jordan Mason and the Detroit Lions’ David Montgomery.
Assume PPR value for these handcuffs, but the rankings can be considered universal.
RkRB Handcuff/SleeperTM1Jordan MasonMIN2David MontgomeryDET3Isaac GuerendoSF4Zach CharbonnetSEA5Trey BensonARI6Najee HarrisLAC7Rhamondre StevensonNE8Ray DavisBUF9Tyler AllgeierATL10Austin EkelerWAS11Rico DowdleCAR12Jaylen WrightMIA13Tyjae SpearsTEN14Cam SkatteboNYG15Rachaad WhiteTB16Braelon AllenNYJ17Will ShipleyPHI18DJ GiddensIND19Kareem HuntKC20Justice HillBAL21Jerome FordCLE22Brashard SmithKC23Roschon JohnsonCHI24Tank BigsbyJAX25Bhayshul TutenJAX26Nick ChubbHOU27Woody MarksHOU28Dylan SampsonCLE29Keaton MitchellBAL30Tahj BrooksCIN31Blake CorumLAR32Jarquez HunterLAR33Emanuel WilsonGB34Raheem MostertLV35Kyle MonangaiCHI36Kendre MillerNO37Sean TuckerTB38MarShawn LloydGB39Kimani VidalLAC40Ollie GordonMIA41Isaiah DavisNYJ42Jacory Croskey-MerrittWAS43Trevor EtienneCAR44Antonio GibsonNE45Miles SandersDAL46Samaje PerineCIN47Ty JohnsonBUF48Devin NealNO49AJ DillonPHI50Damien MartinezSEAMORE: Find the best RBs to fade with our fantasy draft busts.
