If you’ve been playing in fantasy football leagues for a while, you know that the running back position can be extremely volatile. Between injuries, hot hand approaches, potential running back by committees (RBBC), and head coaches wanting to keep their respective game plans to themselves, it’s no wonder that “bell-cow” type fantasy football running backs were flying off draft boards in the early rounds of pre-season drafts. However, even though most of our preseason drafts are nearly completed, there are still several NFL backfields that are still “under construction” with no publicly designated lead back or running back handcuff. For instance, the Jacksonville Jaguars list Trevor Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby in their first depth chart.

 

 

 

Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Handcuff Report

Here are a few other NFL backfields that appear to still be in flux as Week 1 approaches:

Washington Commanders

For much of the preseason, all anyone could talk about when it came to fantasy football running backs was Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Bill). His ADP steadily rose throughout the preseason, but in the Commanders’ Week 1 depth chart, he’s listed as the team’s RB4, behind Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, and Chris Rodriguez. There have been reports that Rodriguez could get the bulk of the team’s early down and goal-line carries, but Ekeler is the Commanders RB I trust the most to start the season. He’s the Commanders’ passing down back (a role he’s very familiar with) and their only RB with a clearly defined role in Week 1. 

Houston Texans

With Joe Mixon (ankle) on the reserve/non-football injury list and out for at least the first four weeks of the season, Nick Chubb is listed as the Houston Texans’ RB1 in the team’s latest depth chart. We’re all pulling for Chubb to have a bounce-back season after suffering a horrific knee injury back in Week 2 of 2023, and he’s shown some flashes of his old self this preseason. Dameon Pierce is listed as the team’s RB2, but by the end of the season, we may see Woody Marks leapfrog ahead of both Chubb and Pierce. There are rumors that Mixon might miss the entire season, and there are question marks regarding Chubb’s ability to withstand the rigors of a full 17-game NFL season. The Texans drafted Marks in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft, and he checks a lot of boxes. Marks is elusive, sure-handed, and able to make catches out of the backfield, and he looked good as a pass protector this offseason. He might never get the chance to be considered an RB handcuff because he’s shown that he’s capable of leading this backfield starting in Week 1. 

Cleveland Browns

Jerome Ford is listed as the Browns’ RB1 to start the season, but he’s had opportunities to be a lead back in the past and eventually relinquished the role. History will almost certainly repeat itself as the Browns have two rookie RBs capable of filling an every-down back role. The Browns invested a second-round pick on Quinshon Judkins, and according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, he’s close to signing his rookie deal with the Browns and could be joining the team relatively soon. Judkins hasn’t been in camp, so it may take him some time before he’s ready to take on a full workload. The Browns used their fourth-round pick to draft Dylan Sampson, and he’ll open the season as the team’s change-of-pace back and Ford’s RB handcuff. 

 

 

 

Common But Crucial Characteristics of Fantasy Football’s Best RB Handcuffs

  1. They’re the next man up in their team’s RB depth chart and will take over lead back duties should the lead back be unavailable or suffer an injury. 
  2. They are good at pass protection. A running back’s ability to protect his QB will determine how much he plays or if he even keeps his roster spot. Rachaad White is a good example of an RB Handcuff with good pass-blocking abilities. He’ll be the next man up should Bucky Irving be unavailable.
  3. An RB handcuff, like all lead backs, needs to hold onto the football. Current Cincinnati Bengals RB1 Chase Brown began last season as an RB handcuff. He ran like crazy and only fumbled twice all season, and he’s now the Bengals’ lead back.

How much a team incorporates their run game as part of their overall offense should also influence whether you handcuff a primary running back on your fantasy football roster. The NFL is a pass-happy league, but the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Green Bay Packers had the highest rushing play percentage in football last season. All three teams feature outstanding bell-cow RBs who were drafted in the first two rounds of preseason fantasy football drafts. Saquon Barkley’s handcuff is Will Shipley. Derrick Henry’s handcuff is Keaton Mitchell. Josh Jacobs’ handcuff is Emanuel Wilson.

Here are several other important handcuffs to familiarize yourself with heading into Week 1:

 

 

 

Top 10 RB Handcuffs Ahead of NFL Week 1

Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are expected to run the ball a lot this season. Kenneth Walker will begin the season as the team’s primary back. He has had trouble staying healthy in the past, and whenever Charbonnet has had to fill in for him, he has performed like an RB1. 

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson was a top-three pick in just about every format in preseason fantasy football drafts, and if you drafted him, you may want to protect your investment. Allgeier has a 1000-yard rushing season under his belt and would step right in as the Falcons’ lead back should Robinson be unavailable. 

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings

Mason is listed as the RB2 in the latest Vikings depth chart, but he could steal some goal-line carries from RB1 Aaron Jones Mason has the makings of a lead back. In the seven games in which he had 14 or more carries last season, Mason averaged 5.2 YPC, scored three TDs, and had 10 receptions. Some suggest that he might eventually move ahead of Jones Sr. on the Vikings’ depth chart.

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals

James Conner ran for a career-high 1094 yards last season and is the clear lead back for the Cardinals. However, he is 30 years old, and Benson, the Cardinals' second-year back, is projected to have an increased role in the Arizona offense this season. 

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

J.K. Dobbins played well enough this preseason to hold on to his Week 1 RB1 status, but based on his injury history, Harvey could be playing some significant snaps before the 2025 season is over. 

TreyVeon Henderson, New England Patriots

The Patriots may have listed Henderson as the RB3 on their most recent depth chart, but should Rhamondre Stevenson stumble out of the gate or get injured, Henderson will be their lead back. 

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Najee Harris has been cleared to play in Week 1, but he’s missed a lot of practice time this preseason. Hampton is too good not to have a significant role in this run-happy Chargers offense this season. Look for him to play meaningful snaps as soon as Week 1. 

Ollie Gordon, Miami Dolphins

When healthy, De’Von Achane is one of the top RBs in fantasy football. He’s been dealing with a calf injury for much of the preseason, and although he has returned to practice ahead of Week 1, the Dolphins are being tight-lipped about how much of a role he’ll have in the season opener. It’s a situation that needs to be watched closely. With Jaylen Wright expected to miss multiple weeks due to a leg injury, Gordon II would likely be the Dolphins’ lead back should Achane be unavailable. The Dolphins’ recent signings of Jeff Wilson and JaMychal Hasty could be telling more of the underlying story than the Dolphins are letting on. It is interesting to note that as this article is being written, the Dolphins’ "official depth chart" has a message stating “The 2025 Depth Chart will be available closer to the regular season”.

Braelon Allen, NY Jets

Breece Hall will open the season as the Jets’ RB1 and will likely also have a significant role in the team’s passing game. However, Allen has turned some heads with his preseason performance and is the next man up should Hall not play up to expectations this season.

Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

After playing behind Najee Harris for multiple seasons, Jaylen Warren is finally the Steelers’ lead back. He did recently sign a two-year contract extension and has a reputation as a good pass protector, which is very important when you’ve got a 41-year-old QB like Aaron Rodgers under center. However, Johnson has enough talent to step in and take over lead back duties should Warren’s past fumbling issues resurface this season.