Fantasy RB Handcuff Rankings Week 8: Bears, Chiefs backups shine in Week 7
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RB fantasy depth charts 2025RB handcuff rankingsMany 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.Â
Fantasy Football RB Handcuffs Depth ChartHere’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 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): CommitteeWW: Waiver-wire pickup this weekđ„: InjuredUpdated Oct. 21:
NFL TeamFantasy RB1Top HandcuffSleepers & Role PlayersArizona CardinalsBam Knight Michael Carter Emari Demercad đ„, Trey Benson đ„ IRAtlanta FalconsBijan RobinsonTyler AllgeierNathan CarterBaltimore RavensDerrick HenryJustice HillRasheen Ali, Keaton MitchellBuffalo BillsJames CookRay DavisTy JohnsonCarolina PanthersChuba Hubbard Rico DowdleTrevor Etienne, Jonathon Brooks đ„ PUP-RChicago BearsD’Andre SwiftKyle MonangaiRoschon JohnsonCincinnati BengalsChase BrownTahj BrooksSamaje Perine Cleveland BrownsQuinshon JudkinsJerome FordDylan Sampson, Raheim SandersDallas CowboysJavonte WilliamsJaydon BlueHunter Luepke, Phil Mafah đ„ IR-RDenver BroncosJ.K. Dobbins (co)R.J. Harvey (co)Tyler Badie, Jaleel McLaughlinDetroit LionsJahmyr GibbsDavid MontgomeryCraig Reynolds, Sione Vaki đ„Green Bay PackersJosh JacobsEmanuel WilsonChris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd đ„ IR-RHouston TexansWoody Marks (co)Nick Chubb (co)Dare Ogunbowale, Dameon Pierce, Joe Mixon đ„ NFIIndianapolis ColtsJonathan TaylorDJ GiddensTyler Goodson đ„Jacksonville JaguarsTravis EtienneBhayshul TutenLeQuint AllenKansas City ChiefsIsiah Pacheco (co)Kareem Hunt (co)Brashard Smith, Elijah MitchellLas Vegas RaidersAshton JeantyRaheem MostertDylan Laube đ„, Zamir White Los Angeles ChargersKimani Vidal Hassan Haskins Omarion Hampton đ„ IRLos Angeles RamsKyren WilliamsBlake Corum Jarquez HunterMiami DolphinsDe’Von AchaneOllie GordonJaylen Wright Minnesota VikingsJordan MasonZavier Scott Cam Akers, Ty Chandler đ„, Aaron Jones đ„ IR-RNew England PatriotsTreVeyon Henderson (co)Rhamondre Stevenson (co)Antonio Gibson đ„New Orleans SaintsAlvin KamaraKendre MillerDevin Neal, Velus Jones Jr.New York GiantsCam SkatteboTyrone Tracy Devin SingletaryNew York JetsBreece HallIsaiah DavisBraelon Allen đ„ IR-R, Kene NwangwuPhiladelphia EaglesSaquon Barkley Will ShipleyA.J. Dillon, Tank BigsbyPittsburgh SteelersJaylen Warren Kenneth GainwellKaleb Johnson, Trey SermonSan Francisco 49ersChristian McCaffreyBrian Robinson Jr.Isaac Guerendo, Sincere McCormick, Jordan James đ„Seattle SeahawksKenneth Walker III (co)Zach Charbonnet (co)George HolaniTampa Bay BuccaneersBucky Irving đ„Rachaad WhiteSean Tucker, Josh WilliamsTennessee TitansTony PollardTyjae SpearsJulius Chestnut, Kalel Mullings đ„ IR-R,Washington CommandersJacory Croskey-MerrittChris RodriguezJeremy McNichols2025 RB handcuff rankings: Top 50 backs to add or stashThis 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.
RkRB HandcuffTM1Rachaad WhiteTB2Rico DowdleCAR3Tyler AllgeierATL4TreVeyon HendersonNE5Woody MarksHOU6RJ HarveyDEN7Kenneth GainwellPIT8Tyjae SpearsTEN9Kareem HuntKC10Hassan Haskins LAC11Ollie GordonMIA12Brian Robinson Jr.SF13Brashard SmithKC14Sean TuckerTB15Justice HillBAL16Kendre MillerNO17Emanuel WilsonGB18Will ShipleyPHI19Kyle MonangaiCHI20Tahj BrooksCIN21Isaiah DavisNYJ22Ray DavisBUF23Chris Rodriquez Jr. WAS24Jerome FordCLE25DJ GiddensIND26Jaydon BlueDAL27A.J. DillonPHI28Tyrone TracyNYG29Dylan SampsonCLE30Isaac GuerendoSF31Jeremy McNichols WAS32Roschon JohnsonCHI33Trevor EtienneCAR34Jaylen WrightMIA35Kaleb JohnsonPIT36Samaje PerineCIN37Rasheen AliBAL38Julius ChestnutTEN39George HolaniSEA40Tank BigsbyPHI41Hunter LuepkeDAL42David Montgomery (BYE)DET43Zach Charbonnet (BYE)SEA44Bhayshul Tuten (BYE)JAX45Blake Corum (BYE)LAR46Michael Carter (BYE)ARI47Raheem Mostert (BYE)LV48Zamir White (BYE)LV49Dylan Laube (BYE)LV50Jarquez Hunter (BYE)LARRB handcuff fantasy news Week 8Bucky Irving is making progress, but Todd Bowles is “non-committal” on him. This is why Rachaad White is at the top of the list for Week 8. Omarion Hampton is being placed on IR; Kimani Vidal received the RB1 workload and is not considered a handcuff for the foreseeable future. Following Vidal, Hassan Haskins is the clear RB2 and this is not longer a committee. With Chuba Hubbard back, Rico Dowdle has lost a lot of value, but the Panthers still seem inclined to use him in the offense. 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 isn’t being used much. However, he did get a career-high eight touches. Kyle Monangai looked excellent in Week 7, despite D’Andre Swift having a fantastic performance. See which RB handcuff pickups we recommend in our week 8 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.Â
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.
