This week we’ll focus on how injuries, offensive scheme changes and a rookie’s growing pains can affect overall fantasy RB production. 

The Bears lost their bell cow back for a few weeks, but with a very good veteran RB and an exciting rookie RB on their active roster, they should be able to weather the storm. Drew Brees retirement seems to have negatively impacted the fantasy production of one of the best RBs in the game. The Ravens don’t care about your fantasy football team. They benched their highly productive rookie RB in favor of a few veteran RBs, just because they can pass block and don’t fumble. Please enjoy this week’s fantasy football running back handcuff report.

Bears

As has been widely reported David Montgomery is expected to miss four to five weeks due to a knee injury. Damien Williams is expected to be the Bears’ lead back while Montgomery is sidelined. Williams suffered a thigh bruise in Week 4 and is expected to play in Week 5. Rookie Khalil Herbert, who had a college career 6.1 YPC and caught coach Matt Nagy’s eye this preseason, will likely be Williams’ primary backup. The Bears could also choose to activate Ryan Nall or Artavis Pierce from the practice squad.

Saints

The fact that Alvin Kamara wasn’t targeted in the Saints’ passing game in Week 4 is shocking and could be an ominous sign when it comes to Kamara’s future fantasy production. Kamara has been one of the best fantasy RBs in PPR scoring, averaging 81.5 catches per season since his 2017 debut, but with QB Drew Brees retiring, the Saints just aren’t throwing the ball as much as they used to. Kamara is currently on pace to catch just over 42 passes for the 2021 season. New Saints QB Jameis Winston’s 86 pass attempts are the 30th fewest in football. In his first four games of the 2020 season Kamara has been targeted just 14 times and he’s caught 10 passes. In comparison, Kamara was targeted 35 times and caught 30 passes in his first four games of the 2020 season. Having QB Taysom Hill vulture some of Kamara’s rushing TD opportunities hasn’t helped matters. Hill has three rushing TDs in the past two weeks. Kamara, who had 16 rushing TDs last season, has zero in 2021. It’s no wonder that he’s RB17 in PPR scoring this season. Kamara’s 26 carries in Week 4 were a career high and with Tony Jones Jr. expected to miss three to four weeks due to an ankle injury Kamara could continue to see an increased workload and that could translate into more fantasy production. Dwayne Washington is expected to be Kamara’s handcuff with Jones sidelined but the Saints have worked out Lamar Miller, Duke Johnson, Brian Hill, Ito Smith, and Ryquell Armstead this week, so more help might be on the way.

Ravens

With rookie RB Ty’Son Williams a healthy scratch in Week 4, the Ravens used Latavius Murray as their lead back against the Broncos’ tough run defense. Murray played 62% of the Ravens’ offensive snaps, carried the ball 18 times for 59 yards (3.28 YPC), and scored a TD. Most importantly he didn’t fumble. Williams has an impressive 6.1 YPC average this season and has looked good as a pass catcher, but he needs to do a better job of holding on to the ball and providing protection for his QB. We haven’t heard the last of Williams this season, but he’ll be watching Ravens games from the sidelines until he shows improvement in those areas. For now, the Ravens will roll with a few veterans in their backfield. Murray should get most of the early down work with Le’Veon Bell also getting a few carries per game. He’ll also likely have a role as a pass catching back. Devonta Freeman has also been on the Ravens’ active roster and has enjoyed good success as a pass catching back in his NFL career. 

TeamPrimary RBChange of Pace3rd Down BackHandcuff
ARIJames ConnerChase EdmondsChase EdmondsChase Edmonds
ATLMike DavisWayne GallmanCordarrelle PattersonCordarrelle Patterson
BALLatavius MurrayLe'Veon BellLe'Veon BellLe'Veon Bell
BUFZack MossDevin SingletaryDevin SingletaryDevin Singletary
CARChuba HubbardRoyce FreemanRodney SmithRoyce Freeman
CHIDamien WilliamsKhalil HerbertDamien WilliamsKhalil Herbert
CINJoe MixonSamaje PerineChris EvansSamaje Perine
CLENick ChubbKareem HuntKareem HuntKareem Hunt
DALEzekiel ElliottTony PollardEzekiel ElliottTony Pollard
DENMelvin GordonJavonte WilliamsMelvin GordonJavonte Williams
DETJamaal WilliamsD'Andre SwiftD'Andre SwiftD'Andre Swift
GBAaron JonesA.J. DillonAaron JonesA.J. Dillon
HOUMark IngramPhillip LindsayDavid JohnsonDavid Johnson
INDJonathan TaylorMarlon MackNyheim HinesMarlon Mack
JAXJames RobinsonDare OgunbowaleJames RobinsonCarlos Hyde
KCClyde Edwards-HelaireDarrel WilliamsClyde Edwards-HelaireDarrel Williams
LVRJosh JacobsKenyan DrakeJosh JacobsPeyton Barber
LACAustin EkelerLarry Rountree IIIJustin JacksonLarry Rountree III
LARDarrell Henderson Jr.Sony MichelDarrell Henderson Jr.Sony Michel
MIAMalcolm BrownMyles GaskinSalvon AhmedMyles Gaskin
MINDalvin CookAlexander MattisonDalvin CookAlexander Mattison
NEDamien HarrisJ.J. TaylorBrandon BoldenJ.J. Taylor
NOAlvin KamaraDwayne WashingtonAlvin KamaraDwayne Washington
NYGSaquon BarkleyDevontae BookerSaquon BarkleyDevontae Booker
NYJMichael CarterTevin ColemanTy JohnsonTy Johnson
PHIMiles SandersKenneth GainwellKenneth GainwellKenneth Gainwell
PITNajee HarrisBenny Snell Jr.Najee HarrisBenny Snell Jr.
SFTrey SermonJacques PatrickKyle JuszczykJacques Patrick
SEAChris CarsonAlex CollinsChris CarsonAlex Collins
TBLeonard FournetteRonald JonesGiovani BernardRonald Jones
TENDerrick HenryJeremy McNicholsJeremy McNicholsJeremy McNichols
WASAntonio GibsonJ.D. McKissicJ.D. McKissicJ.D. McKissic