Welcome to the 2026 Week 10 RB Handcuff Report! The NFL Trade deadline passed without any top fantasy football running backs being traded. However, due to byes, we fantasy football managers will need to navigate Week 10 without fantasy football running backs from the Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, and Eagles in our fantasy lineups.
The bye should give Bears RB Kyle Monangai, D'Andre Swift’s RB handcuff, an extra week to recover from his turf toe injury. He is expected back in Week 11.
We also have a week to digest the news from the Buccaneers suggesting, yet again, that they’d be limiting Bucky Irving’s snaps in order to keep him fresh for the rest of the season. Coach Todd Bowles acknowledged that Irving is the team's bell cow running back, but based on his comments, we might see Irving’s RB handcuff, Kenny Gainwell, play more snaps than usual moving forward.
Not surprisingly, we have a whole new slew of injuries to contend with heading into Week 10, but Jacob Parry’s biweekly NFL Injury Report provides the latest updates regarding fantasy football-related injury news. You should also check out Andrew Cooper’s Fantasy Football Streamers & Stashes for the waiver-wire streamers and stashes that will help you field a competitive lineup.
As always, there’s plenty of fantasy football running back news to unpack. Let’s sort through the chaos and find the Week 10 RB handcuffs worth watching before you set your lineup.
2026 Fantasy Football Week 10 Running Back Handcuff Report
The Patriots’ backfield is in flux. Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a right knee tendon injury. His original RB handcuff was TreVeyon Henderson; however, he has been ruled out for Week 10 due to an injury that is neurological in nature. His timeline to return has not been determined. That leaves Corey Kiner as the Patriots’ Week 10 lead back against a tough Lions run defense. It’s difficult to figure out who the Patriots’ clear-cut Week 10 RB handcuff would be; however, Lan Larison and Terrell Jennings (currently on the Pats’ practice squad) would likely fill in should Kiner be unavailable.
Josh Jacobs fractured his finger in Week 9 and will undergo surgery, forcing him to miss up to three weeks of the season. Jacobs had been on the NFL's Commissioner Exempt List and didn’t make his debut until Week 7. In those first six games, the Packers used a running back by committee strategy with MarShawn Lloyd occasionally leading the group. Lloyd was Jacobs’ RB handcuff in Weeks 7 and 8 but was inactive in Week 9 due to a knee injury. Kaleb Johnson took the lead in Week 9 after Jacobs suffered his finger injury. He rushed for 64 yards (4.9 YPC) and scored a TD. Based on his good showing last week, Johnson could be used as the Packers’ Week 10 lead back, but Lloyd has been practicing in full, and Pierre Strong could also be in the mix for touches this week as well. The Packers may opt to use Johnson as their early down back, with Lloyd and Strong Jr. operating as change-of-pace and pass-catching options. Chris Brooks potentially being activated from IR could throw an added wrinkle to the Packers’ potential Week 10 RB depth chart.
The Saints’ RB depth chart could get a facelift in Week 10 if Travis Etienne is activated from IR. His 21-day practice window was opened on Wednesday, and he logged a limited practice. In his first game back with the Saints in Week 10, Audric Estime played 35 snaps and rushed for 72 yards (4.8 YPC). He also added a TD and a reception for five yards. Alvin Kamara played 37 snaps, rushed for 32 yards (5.3 YPC), and caught three passes for 17 yards. CJ Donaldson (shoulder) was out in Week 9 and is questionable to play in Week 10. There are a lot of moving pieces in the Saints backfield right now. We’re hoping to eventually be able to determine who their lead back and RB handcuff is, but the Saints’ backfield is a work in progress ahead of Week 10.
Week 9 was the first time that both Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price were active in the same game. Charbonnet had a 56.7 offensive snap rate, and Price had a 35.8 rate. Charbonnet had 16 carries compared to nine for Price, and Price had four receptions compared to one for Charbonnet. In his career, Charbonnet has been a productive pass-catching RB and has been very successful when used in the red zone. For now, the Seahawks’ backfield looks like a committee, but based on their strengths, it’s likely that Price could eventually be used as the team’s early down back, with Charbonnet as the change of pace/red zone and pass-catching option.
How to Find the Best RB Handcuffs
The Jets found themselves with one of fantasy football’s best RB handcuffs based on how Braelon Allen performed while Breece Hall was forced to miss five games due to injury. Based on their offensive snap rates, Hall was eased back into action in Week 9. However, based on touches, Hall was the Jets’ lead back. Allen should be considered his Week 10 RB handcuff.
The Cowboys are in the market for a new Week 10 RB handcuff with Tyler Goodson suffering sprains to his MCL and ACL in Week 9 and expected to miss multiple weeks. Goodson had been Javonte Williams’ RB handcuff, but Israel Abanikanda appeared to be the favorite to be his Week 10 RB handcuff. However, the newly signed Kendre Miller or Jashaun Corbin could also potentially be elevated from the team’s practice squad as depth pieces ahead of Week 10.
Top 5 RB Handcuffs for 2026 Ahead of Week 10
Blake Corum, Rams
Corum has been one of the most productive fantasy football RB handcuffs this season. He has scored double-digit PPR fantasy points in five straight weeks.
Emmett Johnson, Chiefs
If Kenneth Walker were unavailable, Johnson has the skill set to immediately become the Chiefs’ lead back.
Kaelon Black, 49ers
Black has had double-digit carries in his last two games. He scored one TD and averaged 5.8 YPC in those games.
Dylan Sampson, Browns
Sampson played a season-high 47 snaps in Week 9 compared to just 25 for the struggling Quinshon Judkins.
Mike Washington Jr., Raiders
Although Ashton Jeanty played his normal rate of offensive snaps in Week 9, Washington Jr. would slide into a lead back role if Jeanty’s snaps were ever to be limited again.