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  1. Fantasy Football NFL Week 18 Running Back Handcuff Report

Welcome to the Week 18 Fantasy Football Running Back Handcuff Report! RB handcuffs, and even those RBs further down a team’s depth chart, have an opportunity to make an impact for fantasy football in Week 18. In too many cases, figuring out which RB to start will be a crap shoot this week, and it accentuates the reason why your fantasy leagues should not extend until the Week 18 season.  

These are the NFL backfields that you need to take note of if you are building a fantasy football lineup in Week 18.

 

 

 

Fantasy Football NFL Week 18 Running Back Handcuff Report

Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy football managers who’ve been using Kyren Williams all season are probably generally happy with his fantasy production. Blake Corum has been a pest, eating into Williams’ snaps played, but this week, Ronnie Rivers has a chance to lead the Rams’ backfield. Williams and Corum are both dealing with ankle injuries. Williams has been limited in practice, and Corum did not practice on Thursday. Since the Rams have already clinched their playoff spot, there’s no reason for the Rams to put either back at risk of further aggravating their injuries.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys play the New York Giants in Week 18, and despite both teams being eliminated from the playoffs, they’ve been bitter rivals for years, and both teams would love to end their season on a high note. Javonte Williams is dealing with a shoulder injury and needs just nine yards from scrimmage to earn a $250,000 bonus. I’m sure the Cowboys would love to save that $250,000, and Williams did not practice on Thursday. Malik Davis, who has been Williams’ RB handcuff, could see a big uptick in snaps played this week, but he’s dealing with an eye injury, so we’ll need to monitor his progress. That could leave Jaydon Blue, the Cowboys' rookie RB who's been in their doghouse and a healthy inactive for much of the season, as their primary RB. Whichever Cowboys RB plays the most in Week 18 will have a very good matchup against the Giants, who haven’t been able to stop the run all season.

 

 

 

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are another team whose focus is on the playoffs. They’ve already clinched their spot and have nothing to play for in their regular-season finale. Lead back Omarion Hampton missed practice time this week due to an ankle injury. Kimani Vidal, Hampton’s RB handcuff, was limited in practice because of a neck injury earlier in the week but logged a full practice on Thursday. Hassan Haskins (concussion) might be inactive in Week 18, which would give Jaret Patterson an opportunity to lead the Chargers’ backfield in snaps played against a tough Denver Broncos run defense.

Green Bay Packers

I see no reason for the Packers to play Josh Jacobs in Week 18. They’ve already clinched their Wild Card berth, and Jacobs has been dealing with multiple injuries for the past several weeks. Emanuel Wilson has been Jacobs’ RB handcuff, but the Pack might limit his playing time in Week 18 just in case Jacobs unexpectedly tweaks his injuries leading up to the playoffs. That might lead Chris Brooks to be the Packers RB who plays the majority of snaps in Week 18.   

 

 

 

Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones has missed practice this week due to a hip injury. Jordan Mason, Jones’ RB handcuff, was inactive in Week 17 due to an ankle injury, but he logged a full practice on Thursday. If either RB is out in Week 18, we might see Zavier Scott or Ty Chandler take the lead in the Vikings’ backfield against the Packers. 

New York Jets

If your Week 18 fantasy fortunes are tied to the Jets, keep an eye on their injury reports leading up to kickoff. Breece Hall has been hampered by a knee injury but claims that he’s OK. Isaiah Davis, Hall’s RB handcuff, has missed practice this week due to a concussion. If Davis and Hall are inactive in Week 18, Kene Nwangu, who's been dealing with a quad injury but practicing in full, would be next in line with Khalil Herbert backing him up.

San Francisco 49ers

If you watched the 49ers play the Chicago Bears in Week 17, you saw Christian McCaffrey duck out of the game because of a stiff back. He still played 84.7% of the team’s offensive snaps, but it’s been bothering him leading up to Week 18. All indications are that McCaffrey will play against the Seahawks in a game that will decide who will be the overall number one seed in the playoffs for the NFC. Brian Robinson is McCaffrey’s RB handcuff and would be their lead back if McCaffrey is unexpectedly inactive in Week 18.Â