Welcome to the 2026 Week 6 RB Handcuff Report! With the Bengals, Vikings, Lions, and Dolphins having a bye in Week 6—and several NFL backfields dealing with injuries—this may be the week to start a likely NFL running back handcuff in your fantasy lineup. In some cases, even the backup to the primary handcuff may be your best option for fielding a competitive lineup.

Injuries have decimated the fantasy football running back position this season, but we’ve got great resources at Fantasy Alarm that can help you maintain a winning fantasy football roster. Jacob Parry covers all of the latest injury news from a fantasy football perspective in his must-read bi-weekly NFL Week 6 Injury Report, and Andrew Cooper has great advice on how to replace injured players on your fantasy football roster in his Week 6 Waiver Wire article.

With plenty of ground to cover, let’s examine the Week 6 running back handcuffs to watch as you prepare to set your fantasy football lineup.

2026 Fantasy Football Week 6 Running Back Handcuff Report

Woody Marks, David Montgomery’s RB handcuff, may have an opportunity to be the lead back for the Texans in their Week 6 matchup against the Jaguars. Montgomery, who was removed from his Week 5 matchup against the Titans due to a groin injury, is “week-to-week,” per Texans head coach DeMeco Ryan. If Montgomery, who did not practice on Wednesday, is inactive in Week 6, Dare Ogunbowale would be Marks’ Week 6 RB handcuff. 

The Eagles’ backfield remains in flux ahead of Week 6 as Saquon Barkley continues to deal with a hamstring injury that forced him to be inactive in Week 5. Tank Bigsby, who would have been Barkley’s fantasy football Week 5 running back handcuff, was placed on IR and is expected to miss a total of at least five more weeks after undergoing core muscle surgery. Will Shipley was the next man up in Week 5, and the Eagles elevated Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele from their practice squad for their game against the Jaguars. Shipley left the game after suffering a partial tear of his plantar fascia and is expected to miss multiple weeks. Pierce played 77.4% of the Eagles' offensive snaps in Week 5 but only averaged 1.3 YPC. The Eagles are hoping that Barkley will be active in Week 6 against the Panthers (he did not practice on Wednesday), but if he’s not, Pierce will likely be the Eagles’ lead back with Steele playing the role of his Week 6 RB handcuff. Jaydon Blue, who is also on the Eagles’ practice squad, could potentially be elevated and provide RB depth should Barkley be inactive in Week 6. 

Browns RB Quinshon Judkins injured his ankle in Week 5 and is considered day-to-day. As this article is being written, he hasn’t been ruled out for his Week 6 matchup against the Ravens, but Raheim Sanders, who would have been his Week 6 RB handcuff, was recently placed on IR due to a hip injury.  Should Judkins miss time, Jaleel McLaughlin would fill in as the Browns’ primary Week 6 RB. Dylan Sampson was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, and the Browns have 21 days to add him to their active roster. If he’s not activated within that timeframe, he’ll remain on the IR for the rest of the season. If Sampson isn’t activated in time for the Browns’ Week 6 matchup, the recently signed Audric Estime would be McLaughlin’s Week 6 RB handcuff should Judkins be unavailable. Sampson and Judkins did not participate in the Browns’ Wednesday practice.

According to published reports, Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a high ankle sprain. However, Henderson was a limited participant in the Patriots’ Wednesday practice. Should Henderson be inactive in Week 6, Rhamondre Stevenson will be the team’s lead RB, and Corey Kiner will be his Week 6 RB handcuff. The Patriots added RB depth by recently signing Hassan Haskins to their practice squad this week.

Rico Dowdle, who hasn’t played since Week 2 due to a toe injury, returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday and could resume his role as Jaylen Warren’s Week 6 RB handcuff ahead of the Steelers’ Week 6 matchup against the Buccaneers.

 

 

 

How to Find the Best RB Handcuffs

If you’re looking for a good example of the fluidity surrounding the NFL RB handcuff position this season, look no further than Carlos Washington. He’s an RB who should only be rostered in the deepest fantasy football leagues, but he is an unheralded RB who has a potential (albeit unlikely) path to a lead back role. As this article is being written, Washington Jr. is on the Dolphins’ practice squad. However, in the week prior to the Dolphins’ Week 5 matchup against the Bengals, the Dolphins waived Washington Jr. on Monday, signed him to their practice squad on Wednesday, and made him active for the team’s Sunday matchup.  

We and the Bengals have a week to determine who the Bengals’ primary RB will be moving forward. Chase Brown has been the team’s lead back, but after he fumbled, he sat on the bench and watched Samaje Perine log a season-high 14 carries. Perine had a productive Week 5, averaging 4.9 YPC, and he also scored a receiving TD. Brown has gotten off to a slow start this season and is averaging just 3.5 YPC, but it’s not the first time that Brown has stumbled out of the gate. Brown averaged 2.5 YPC through his first five games of the 2025 season, and from that point forward he averaged 5.1 YPC and just over four catches per game in his final 12 games of the season. 

Top 5 RB Handcuffs for 2026 Ahead of Week 6

Mike Washington Jr., Raiders

Head coach Klint Kubiak has confirmed that Ashton Jeanty, who is dealing with an ankle and foot injury, will play in Week 6 against the Bills.  However, Washington Jr. remains a Week 6 RB handcuff who would have a prominent role in the Raiders’ offense should Jeanty eventually succumb to his injuries and be inactive.   

Brian Robinson, Falcons

The Falcons are running the ball at the highest rate of any team in football, and Robinson Jr. is the Week 6 RB handcuff to one of the best running backs in football. Robinson Jr. has been one of the more productive RB handcuffs and is averaging just over 10 carries per game this season, and he has scored four TDs. 

Roschon Johnson, Bears

Kyle Monangai is dealing with a turf toe injury that caused him to be inactive in Week 5. If he is inactive in Week 6, Johnson would be D’Andre Swift’s fantasy football Week 6 running back handcuff. Only two teams run the ball more than the Bears, and with Swift dealing with nagging hip and knee injuries, Johnson could eventually play meaningful snaps in the future.  

Seth McGowan, Colts

McGowan has huge shoes to fill as Jonathan Taylor’s fantasy football Week 6 running back handcuff. Taylor’s usage has declined over the past two weeks, and in Week 5 he carried the ball a season-low 15 times. 

Jordan Mason, Vikings

The Vikings have a bye in Week 6, but Mason, who has been on IR due to a fractured thumb, is eligible to be reinstated ahead of Week 7. Aaron Jones Sr. has a strong hold on the Vikings’ lead RB role, but the Vikings run the ball at the fifth-highest rate of any NFL team. Should Jones Sr. become inactive, Mason would be the Vikings’ primary RB.