2025 Fantasy Football Running Back Handcuff Rankings: Zach Charbonnet, Isaac Guerendo and More

Welcome to the most extensive 2025 fantasy football handcuff rankings on the internet (probably)!

If you're looking for an overview of fantasy football handcuffing in general, check out my recent article breaking down this classic draft strategy. I also recommend reading that piece if you still think of handcuffs as players you only draft to back up your own starters — I finish things off with a case for embracing the Dark Side of handcuffing and leaning into the variance by handcuffing your opponent's running backs. 

With that said, now is the time to put those grandiose strategy discussions aside. This article is about diving into the details. From coach speak, to prospect profiles, to who looked good in training camp on Tuesday, we need every crumb of information we can get to determine the best handcuff running backs across the league. This article features at least one back from each NFL backfield, broken down into tiered rankings by how desirable their handcuff situations are. That's a lot of ground to cover, so let's get right into it. 

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2025 Fantasy Football Handcuff Rankings

Tier 0: Committee Backs with Injury Upside

The backs in this tier aren't handcuffs, and I mean that as a compliment. True handcuffs have zero (or almost zero) standalone fantasy value; they only become viable in most leagues if their team's starter misses time. The players in this tier already have value, even without injuries. Either they should see real volume despite clearly being their team's RB2, or they themselves have a real chance to win a starting job. 

But since this is a handcuff article, I will be focusing on each player's injury-contingent value. Adding contingent value to the mix for these committee backs is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the fastest way to consolidate a committee backfield is for the player you're competing with to miss time. Given the prevalence of running back injuries, all of these players have substantial injury-based upside within their range of outcomes. If things go right, you can have your standalone value cake and eat some contingent upside, too. 

On the other hand, if you're only looking for contingent upside, these players are overpriced compared to the pure handcuffs available later in drafts. Their ADPs feature in their perceived standalone values, which are unfortunately often a mirage. I'm only featuring players who are the second back on their NFL teams by ADP (or later), so these players aren't favored to win their backfield competitions. And very few NFL RB2s actually provide consistent value for most fantasy league formats. These players may have two paths to relevancy, but we shouldn't go overboard in assuming how wide those paths are.

Note: Because they're not actually handcuffs, I'm not giving these backs official rankings, but they are roughly in order of fantasy desirability.

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

With a half-PPR ADP inside the top 24 overall running backs, Montgomery has by far the most value of any NFL RB2. This makes sense, as he finished last season as a borderline fantasy RB1 with 14.6 points per game. Montgomery achieved this despite clearly playing second fiddle to his backfield counterpart, Jahmyr Gibbs. However, with Ben Johnson out of town and Gibbs continuing to ascend as one of the most talented RBs in the league, there is some risk that Montgomery will be slightly phased out to a more traditional change-of-pace role.

Luckily, from a handcuff perspective, Montgomery comes with absolutely massive handcuff upside if Gibbs were to miss time. We saw the younger RB go nuclear in the fantasy playoffs last year when Montgomery was sidelined, but there's no reason it couldn't be the other way around this season. 

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Warren is projected to split the load in the Steelers' backfield with second-round rookie Kaleb Johnson. The 26-year-old struggled with injuries last season, but he has posted very impressive rushing efficiency metrics at times in his three-year NFL career. He is also likely to dominate receiving work out of the backfield, giving him extra value in PPR formats (although watch out for his putrid PFF Pass Blocking Grades in each of the last two seasons).

In what should be a run-heavy Arthur Smith offense, he and Johnson could both provide value. And if the rookie were to miss time, Warren should have no trouble consolidating valuable work ahead of Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon. 

Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

A fourth-round pick in this year's draft, Skattebo will compete with last year's fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy Jr. to lead the Giants' backfield. As reflected by their similar ADPs, this is a competition that could genuinely go either way.

Of course, the dirty secret is that not every competition has a winner. Tracy and Skattebo may cannibalize each other's value in what is likely to be an uninspiring offense … and that's without even mentioning the possibility that Devin Singletary is still involved. But if things break right for Skattebo — either thanks to injury or winning the job outright — he has exactly the right kind of profile to consolidate volume and rack up fantasy points, with receiving ability and workhorse size. 

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

Mason was last year's biggest handcuff success story, providing very solid fantasy production in Christian McCaffrey's absence. His play earned him a trade to Minnesota, where he joins veteran Aaron Jones in an otherwise empty backfield.

The perennially underrated Jones will likely lead the way in the passing game and between the 20s, but he converted just three of his 13 goal-line attempts in 2024. That should give Mason the inside track to a valuable role in this high-powered offense.

Mason also reportedly took the first carry in the team's first padded practice, so he may see the lion's share of early-down work. Even still, Mason may not find standalone value in PPR formats in this pass-heavy Minnesota offense. But Jones is 30 years old with a lengthy injury history, and there is no one else in this backfield. Just like it was last year, Mason's handcuff upside is immense. 

Tank Bigsby/Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars 

If we trust recent reports, Bigsby is already in line to lead the Jaguars' backfield in carries. But ADP has him well behind veteran Travis Etienne, who does bring far more upside in the passing game. Tuten, an explosive fourth-round rookie, could also be in the mix … or he could end up completely irrelevant.

An injury could certainly help clear things up, but we could also see either Bigsby or Tuten win a lead role outright. This is the definition of an ambiguous backfield, and I recommend targeting both of these players, especially given their current late ADPs. 

Miles Sanders/Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys

The situation in Dallas is similar to the situation in Jacksonville, albeit with a slightly less exciting cast of characters. Blue is explosive and a capable receiver, but he was just a fifth-round pick and wasn't particularly effective on the ground at Texas.

Sanders is reportedly performing well in training camp, but he hasn't been particularly efficient in recent years. Thankfully, the Cowboys' current “RB1,” Javonte Williams, has been even worse, ranking as one of the worst high-volume rushers in the league in just about every stat. There's an opportunity here for one of these backs to snag a valuable role, whether thanks to injury or simply earning the job. 

J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos

I came very close to bumping Dobbins down a tier, into the realm of the pure handcuffs. It strikes me as exceedingly unlikely that the oft-injured veteran holds off explosive second-rounder RJ Harvey for long. But we know that Sean Payton loves two things: throwing to his running backs, and inexplicable usage decisions.

The first means that there should be points to go around in Denver's backfield, and the second means that we can't be too confident in predicting Harvey to inevitably dominate this backfield. Of course, Payton is also liable to bring back Audric Estime/Jaleel McLaughlin/Tyler Badie if Harvey were to miss time, so Dobbins' handcuff upside may be capped. 

Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

Formerly a first-round fantasy pick, Ekeler's glory days are long over. But he still managed to provide just-about usable production as the Commanders' pass-catching back last season. I'm a little skeptical of the 30-year-old's ability to repeat that feat, especially with Deebo Samuel Sr. now in town.

But we do have clear contingent upside to fall back on here, as Ekeler averaged a very healthy 14.1 half-PPR points in three games without Brian Robinson last season. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt is earning buzz and could throw a wrench into that theory, but adjusting your rankings to account for seventh-round rookies is usually a losing move. 

Tier 1: Must-Start Handcuffs

When it comes to pure handcuffs, these guys are the best of the best. Nothing is ever certain in the NFL, but we can be fairly confident that each of these backs would dominate touches if their team's RB1s were unavailable. These backs also (mostly) play on fantasy-friendly offenses, with solid quarterback play and/or offensive coaching. They are must-starts when their team's top backs are sidelined, which is the dream for any handcuff. 

1. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

Some might argue that Charbonnet actually belongs in the tier above, as a committee back with standalone value (this is going to be a trend in this tier). And there is a chance that new Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak decides to use more of a committee approach. But Charbonnet has averaged just 4.7 half-PPR points in 23 career games with Kenneth Walker healthy. That doesn't exactly scream “standalone” value.

On the other hand, he's averaged an absurd 21.9 points in six games with Walker sidelined. That's enough to make him the league's top handcuff in my eyes.

2. Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers

When in doubt, Kyle Shanahan's RB2 is a pretty good bet to be one of the league's top handcuffs. Guerendo started two games for the Niners in 2024, and he averaged 17.7 points.

San Francisco did draft yet another running back in fifth-rounder Jordan James, so Guerendo's spot on the depth chart isn't 100% secure. But that uncertainty is made up for by the fact that Christian McCaffrey's health remains a massive question mark. 

3. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Once again, I feel compelled to defend the fact that White isn't in the committee tier. After all, he averaged double-digit points last season with Bucky Irving in town. But that was Irving's rookie year; by the end of it, White had been completely phased out. From Week 16 onward, including Tampa Bay's one playoff game, he averaged just 3.7 points on 2.5 carries and 2.75 targets per contest. That's not a fantasy-relevant player.

On the other hand, we know that White can rack up fantasy points when he has this backfield to himself. Sean Tucker might steal some work on the ground, but White would be a weekly RB2 if Irving were to miss time. 

4. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Since entering the league in 2022, Tyler Allgeier has quietly been one of the league's better running backs. He has posted at least an 82.9 PFF Offense Grade in each of his three seasons, and he consistently ranks near the top of the league in rushing efficiency metrics.

Of course, the problem for Allgeier is that, after his 1,000-yard rookie season, the Falcons added a generational RB talent in Bijan Robinson. Robinson has yet to miss a game so far in his NFL career, but I have confidence that Allgeier would step right in with quality fantasy outings if he did. 

5. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

I do feel bad dropping Spears out of the committee tier. There is a non-zero chance the third-year back carves out a relevant role in the Titans' backfield this season. But we also entered last year expecting Spears to compete with Tony Pollard to be the team's 1A, and that simply never happened.

Pollard was a workhorse, and he played well. Spears dealt with injuries and averaged less than six carries in games with Pollard active. On the other hand, Spears has receiving ability, explosiveness, and absolutely no competition for the RB2 job (with all due respect to Julius Chestnut and Kalel Mullings). Especially if Cam Ward can elevate this offense, he would be a locked-in starter on elite volume if Pollard missed time. 

6. Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers

Unfortunately, even though he is in my top tier of handcuffs, ranking Harris here means I am very unlikely to ever draft him this season. Harris' ADP is inside the top-100 picks, as fantasy managers are clearly expecting him to have standalone value. I just don't see that happening. Harris has ranged from very inefficient to a little inefficient during his NFL career.

He is competing with an electric first-round rookie in Omarion Hampton. And he is already behind the eight ball, missing the start of training camp with a fireworks-related eye issue. If Hampton were to miss time, I like Najee's chances to rack up volume and points in Greg Roman's offense. But his price is far higher than that of a pure contingent play, so proceed with caution.

7. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

Everything I just said about Najee also applies to Stevenson (minus the fireworks part). The veteran is priced as though he will have standalone value, just inside the top 40 RBs. That's not impossible, especially early in the season as rookie TreVeyon Henderson settles in. But I expect the 38th-overall pick to claim control of this backfield (or at least the most valuable fantasy touches) sooner rather than later.

Even if Henderson misses time, the Patriots' backfield will return to 2024, when Stevenson was a borderline RB2. If anything, I'm closer to bumping him down a tier than up. 

Tier 2: Murky Situations

This tier is for players who wouldn't immediately be must-starts even with an injury but still have massive contingent upsides. These backs mostly fit in one of two groups.

The first of these is players who might be the backup on good offenses. When the top back on an elite offense goes down, someone is almost certainly going to fill their shoes as a must-start, but it's not always clear who that player will be. Even on the most seemingly empty depth charts, it's hard to trust an “RB2” who has never proven themselves as a viable starter. Carson Steele looked like a league-winner for a week last season before Kareem Hunt rose from the dead/his couch to plod his way to fantasy relevance. 

The other relevant group here is players who have relatively strong holds on their teams' RB2 jobs, but play for unexciting offenses. The key for these players is usually just how much volume they can consolidate after an injury. On a bad offense, 65% of backfield touches might not be enough for a player to get there (see 2024 Alexander Mattison). But any player who can consolidate 70%+ of a team's touches is likely to be fantasy-relevant (see 2024 Rico Dowlde). There are likely to be some massive winners in this tier, but there will also be plenty of disappointments, even among players who do benefit from an injury.

8. Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles

Shipley is one of my favorite late-round picks this season. His ADP is outside the top-200 players, making him the fourth-latest NFL RB2 to be selected. Yes, he has no path to standalone value while volume monster Saquon Barkley is healthy. But if we're being honest with ourselves, none of these backs are going to be reliable fantasy contributors while their respective RB1s are available.

If Barkley (who has an injury history and is coming off a 400-touch season) misses time, Shipley steps into the best running back fantasy situation in the league. The only thing keeping him out of Tier 1 is that we have no idea whether the 2024 fourth-rounder is capable of holding onto a lead back job. His only competition is A.J. Dillon, so he'll certainly get a shot. But there's a chance that the Eagles would look outside their current roster to find their new lead back if Barkley suffered a major injury.

9. Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

We have a whopping one-game sample size of the Bills' backfield without James Cook from last season. In that one game, Davis was the clear lead back, racking up 20 carries and three targets. Veteran Ty Johnson would likely be more involved if Cook missed extended time, especially in the passing game. However, the real reason Davis falls short of Tier 1 is that Buffalo's offense simply isn't a particularly friendly one for running back fantasy production.

Even Cook himself averaged a relatively mediocre 12.6 expected half-PPR points per game in 2024, the 25th-most among qualified RBs. Davis would be usable if given the starting role, but Johnson and one-man-offense Josh Allen could steal enough valuable work to make him a frustrating option. 

10. Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

At this time last year, the fantasy community was hyping Jaylen Wright despite the fact that he was third on Miami's depth chart behind De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. Now, Mostert is gone, with only Alexander Mattison and sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon to replace him.

Like his fellow 2024 fourth-rounder Shipley, Wright hasn't exactly proven himself at the NFL level, so there's a chance one of those players could prove more frustrating than expected. But if Achane were to miss time, Wright is the clear favorite to step in as the RB1 in Mike McDaniel's RB-friendly system. 

11. Blake Corum/Jarquez Hunter, Los Angeles Rams

Here we get our first two-player listing, as both Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter deserve mention. However, Corum comes first, and he is the player earning this 11th-ranked spot.

Yes, his rookie season was massively disappointing, but he was a better prospect than Hunter and received better draft capital (third round vs. fourth round). Hunter brings explosiveness that LA's backfield is lacking, but Corum is the more obvious replacement to fill Kyren Williams' shoes if they are ever empty.

12. Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals

Benson's rookie season was mostly a wash. He dealt with injuries and, more importantly, James Conner didn't (until the last two weeks of the season). Conner is an excellent back, and he's not going anywhere while he's healthy. But if he misses time, Benson should step in as the Cardinals' lead back.

He is another player who hasn't proven anything, but third-round draft capital should mean his job is slightly more secure than the likes of Shipley and Wright. The main reason Benson isn't higher is that Emari Demercado would likely be involved in the passing game if Conner were sidelined, limiting his ceiling.

13. Tahj Brooks/Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals

With Zack Moss being released, the sixth-round rookie and the veteran pass-catcher are the only backs behind Chase Brown in the Bengals' backfield. Neither is a hugely inspiring player, but we know that there are points to go around in this offense.

Especially given his current ADP (which should rise with Moss out of the way), Brooks is a great high-upside pick near the end of drafts. Perine is far less exciting, but it also wouldn't be shocking if the Bengals leaned on the dependable veteran if Brown were unavailable. 

14. Kareem Hunt/Brashard Smith/Elijah Mitchell, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are the only team with four backs being drafted inside the top-250 picks, so it's fitting that they are the first team to appear with three backs listed. Depending on how Isiah Pacheco looks further removed from his 2024 broken fibula, there's even a chance that one of these backs is fantasy-relevant even without an injury.

Hunt churned his way to RB2 status last season, Mitchell was efficient the last time we saw him on an NFL field, and Smith brings explosiveness and pass-catching chops to a backfield that badly needs them. If I had to guess, the Chiefs would return to the slow-and-steady Hunt if Pacheco missed time, with Smith potentially mixing in on passing downs. But all three players are worth holding in deeper leagues, even if any of them individually might rank lower down on this list.

15. MarShawn Lloyd/Emanuel Wilson/Chris Brooks, Green Bay Packers

The lead running back in Matt LaFleur's system is going to score points. The issue is predicting who that will be if Josh Jacobs misses time. Lloyd should be the obvious candidate, having been a third-round pick in last year's draft, but he missed time due to injuries and appendicitis as a rookie, and is injured again right now.

Wilson was the team's RB2 in Lloyd's absence in 2024, and Brooks has also generated some steam. Most likely, the obvious answer is the correct one, and Lloyd is a valuable handcuff. But keep an eye on which of Wilson or Brooks makes the team. 

16. Roschon Johnson/Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears

The Bears' current RB1 is D'Andre Swift, who hasn't been efficient in years and was traded away by the Lions under new Bears head coach Ben Johnson. With that in mind, the fact that their RB2 has an ADP outside the top-180 picks is a clear indictment of the rest of Chicago's backfield.

Johnson (Roschon, not Ben) was an intriguing prospect after playing behind Bijan Robinson at Texas, but he hasn't done much in the NFL. Monangai is an unknown quantity as a rookie, but he was a seventh-round pick, so we can't expect much. Making the path to fantasy success narrower, Chicago's offense will need to take a step forward under Johnson (Ben, not Roschon) to be an above-average unit.

With two viable names and an uncertain offense, there's a lot more uncertainty here than we would normally like, especially given the whole concept of a handcuff relies on getting “lucky” with an injury to begin with. But there is upside for one of these guys if everything breaks right.

17. DJ Giddens, Indianapolis Colts

I like Khalil Herbert, but we have to assume that Giddens, a fifth-round selection in this year's draft, is ahead of him on the Colts' depth chart. Giddens is an explosive athlete and could add value in the receiving game. Aside from being an unproven Day 3 pick, the big thing keeping him from rising up these rankings is his home in Indianapolis.

Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones have managed to stagnate the fantasy production of Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley, respectively. Even if JT misses time, the rookie could struggle to get anything going. 

18. Raheem Mostert, Las Vegas Raiders

Two years removed from finishing as the overall fantasy RB2, Mostert is an afterthought in Vegas behind rookie star Ashton Jeanty. If Jeanty were to miss time (fantasy gods forbid), Mostert's only competition is Sincere McCormick and Zamir White.

Even at 33 years old, the former UDFA speedster should be able to win that competition … right? Assuming the answer is yes, this situation is sneakily favorable with Geno Smith, Pete Carroll, and Chip Kelly in town.

19. Keaton Mitchell/Rasheen Ali, Baltimore Ravens

Neither of these backs is the Ravens' RB2 by ADP. That honor goes to veteran pass-catcher Justice Hill. However, Hill's role is what it is. He's a flex option in deep PPR leagues with Derrick Henry healthy, and he'd be about the same if the King were to miss time. Instead, the Ravens' early-down work would go to one of these young backs … or maybe they'd sign Gus Edwards again.

In fact, Edwards is a good reminder that this role isn't as inherently fantasy-friendly as Henry makes it seem; he was a TD-dependent flex play in his final season as Baltimore's lead early-down back. Mitchell and Ali both theoretically provide more explosiveness than the Gus Bus did, but there's no guarantee which (if either) will get a shot. Still, the hypothetical upside of playing on an elite offense earns them the last spot in Tier 2. 

Tier 3: So You're Saying there's a Chance

This is the final tier in this article. But the great thing about handcuff running backs is that it's essentially a guarantee that at least one of the names I'm about to mention will have a stretch of solid fantasy production in 2025. Yes, these backs are in uncertain situations on bad offenses. But volume is king, and they all have potential paths to real volume. 

19. Braelon Allen/Isaiah Davis, New York Jets

This is probably my most controversial take in this article, as Allen is being drafted as a borderline top-150 pick. But this Justin Fields-led offense isn't going to support more than one fantasy-viable running back, and Allen isn't going to overtake Breece Hall. That means he doesn't make the committee tier, so I'm just evaluating his handcuff viability. And as a handcuff, Allen isn't that exciting.

The big issue is that, when Hall was sidelined for Week 14 of last season, Allen was in a near-perfect split with Davis, his fellow 2024 draftee. The fourth-rounder played two more snaps and saw one more carry than the fifth-rounder, but Davis saw one more target and finished with more fantasy points. Meanwhile, the Jets have switched from checkdown king Aaron Rodgers to scramble-happy Justin Fields. I do like Allen as a talent (he ranked 14th among qualified RBs in PFF Rush Grade last season), but his situation is absolutely brutal, so he lands at the top of Tier 3.

20. Rico Dowdle/Trevor Etienne, Carolina Panthers

Last year, Dowdle proved the adage that most NFL backs are capable of being solid fantasy options in the right situation. He wasn't particularly effective or particularly ineffective, but he rode workhorse volume in the Cowboys' offense to a top-24 finish in both total points and points per game.

Unfortunately, his situation in 2025 is not as favorable. Even if Miles Sanders were sidelined, Dowdle would likely lose out to Etienne, a fourth-round pick in this year's draft, in passing situations. And, until proven otherwise, the Panthers' offense is one of the worst in the NFL, capping the ceilings of both of these players. 

21. Nick Chubb/Woody Marks/Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans

For the purposes of this ranking, I'm still assuming that Joe Mixon is the Texans' starting running back. However, his ankle injury seems serious enough that we might get the answer to which of these backups is the handcuff to roster sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, none of the candidates is particularly inspiring.

Chubb and Pierce were both horrendously inefficient the last time we saw them; Demeco Ryans' recent comments certainly don't make it sound like we are going to see vintage Chubb. Marks is more of an unknown commodity as a fourth-round rookie, but he wasn't a particularly exciting prospect. Especially given how badly the Texans' O-line played last season, there's a chance none of these guys are playable even if Mixon is out.

21. Jerome Ford/Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns

At this rate, we're not far from one of these guys jumping straight to Tier 0 and the other being ineligible for this list as the Browns' starting RB. But right now, the ADP market is still treating Quinshon Judkins, the 36th pick in this year's draft who is currently unsigned due to his recent arrest for domestic violence, as the team's clear starter. That leaves Ford and Sampson competing for the RB2 job.

Both are intriguing options. Ford was passable as the team's starter last season, and Sampson has workhorse potential and earned his fourth-round draft capital. The bigger issue is Cleveland's offensive environment. You might have heard the saying that if you have two starting quarterbacks, you don't have any. Well, the Browns have four. 

22. Devin Neal/Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

This is another case of two potentially interesting players made a lot less interesting by their situation. Neal fell to the sixth round in this year's draft, but he has a solid all-around profile. Miller has made essentially zero impact through two years in the league, but he was an exciting third-round pick back in 2023 and is now free from Dennis Allen, who hated him.

Unfortunately, the Saints are finally eating their cap medicine and heading into a rebuilding year with Tyler Shough under center. With that in mind, it's hard to see either of these guys being more than flex plays, even if Alvin Kamara misses time. That's enough to pull them all the way down to the final spot on this list.

Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasySP. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.