Welcome to the Week 9 NFL Running Back Handcuff Report! Last week, we led off our article complaining about the Carolina Panthers and their refusal to name a primary RB. Ahead of Week 9, head coach Dave Canales is hinting that Dowdle may see a larger role moving forward…or maybe I’m interpreting his words into what I want them to mean.

Fantasy Football NFL Week 9 Running Back Handcuff Report

It was another active week for fantasy football RBs. Aaron Jones returned to action in Week 8. He played significantly more snaps (26) and ran a lot more routes (18) than Jordan Mason (17, 8), but he only had one more carry (5) than Mason (4). The Vikings were getting pummeled by the Chargers, so they had to abandon the run game early on in Week 8. We’ll need to keep an eye on how things play out in Week 9 when the Vikings take on the Detroit Lions before trying to determine if the Vikes have a primary back and an RB handcuff, or if their backfield will be a 50/50 split moving forward.

We need to keep an eye on the Chicago Bears’ backfield. D’Andre Swift is clearly the team’s lead back, and Kyle Monangai is his RB handcuff, but Swift is dealing with a nagging groin injury. We’ve seen Monangi’s snap rate increase over the past few weeks, and Swift played a season low 49.2 percent of the Bears’ offensive snaps in Week 8.  I’m concerned that Swift’s snaps may continue to be limited until he’s fully healthy. 

The Green Bay Packers' backfield is another one that needs to be closely monitored. Josh Jacobs, the Packers’ lead back, hasn’t had to miss game time because of it, but he’s dealing with a calf injury that has forced him to be limited at practice. His offensive snap rate in his first five games was 73.8. In Jacobs’ last two games, it’s dropped to 54.2. Emanuel Wilson, Jacobs’ RB handcuff, played a season-high 42.2% of the Packers’ offensive snaps in Week 8. 

Despite all the injuries to their offensive line, the Los Angeles Chargers find a way to keep fielding productive fantasy football running backs. Kimani Vidal is the latest Chargers RB to have fantasy relevance. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was quoted as saying that Vidal is “playing like a number one back in the NFL”. To my naked eye, he looks very good in pass protection as well. Omarion Hampton is required to be on IR until Week 10, so it looks like Vidal will hold onto the Chargers’ RB1 role for at least another week. If Hassan Haskins (hamstring) is out again in Week 9, Jaret Patterson, who had the second-most snaps played and carries among Chargers RBs in Week 8, would likely be Vidal’s RB handcuff.

New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with a toe injury. Toe injuries can be tricky, especially for an RB, and there are rumors that the Pats are targeting an RB in the trade market. Stevenson was unable to practice on Wednesday, and if he’s forced to miss time, TreyVeon Henderson, Stevenson’s RB handcuff, will likely take over as the team’s lead back with Terrell Jennings backing Henderson up. If Henderson’s fumbling issues come back to haunt him, look for Jennings to have an even larger role if Stevenson misses time. 

We’ve got a few other NFL backfields that you need to pay attention to. Some depth charts have changed; others might be changing after Week 9’s byes are behind us. We’ll fill you in on all you need to know about NFL fantasy football RBs and their RB handcuffs.

 

 

 

New York Giants

As a long-time Giants fan, it just seems like we can’t have nice things. First, Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending injury (torn ACL), and now Cam Skattebo suffered an open tibia fracture, which pierced his skin, and he ruptured a deltoid ligament on top of dislocating his right ankle. Skattebo underwent surgery, and if there are no further complications, he should be ready for the start of next season. In the meantime, Tyrone Tracy has his old job back as the Giants’ primary RB, and it looks like Devin Singletary will be his RB handcuff for the remainder of the season.

Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco suffered an MCL Sprain in the fourth quarter of his Week 8 Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders. Initial reports list him as week to week, making it very likely that he’ll miss his Week 9 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Expect Kareem Hunt, Pacheco’s RB handcuff, to get the majority of carries in Week 9. If someone in your league dropped Brashard Smith, pick him up, because he’ll likely fill the role of RB handcuff while Pacheco is out. Elijah Mitchell will also provide RB depth in the Chiefs’ backfield.

 

 

 

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals return from their bye week with a new RB1 in Zonovan “Bam” Knight. Knight seems to have wrestled the primary back role away from Michael Carter, who was cut by the Cardinals and then signed to their practice squad. The Cards also cut D’Ernest Johnson from their practice squad on Tuesday. He has since been signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad. Trey Benson, who took over the lead back role from James Conner (IR), will be eligible to return from the IR in Week 10. For now, if you roster Bam Knight, please take advantage of his great Week 9 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Philadelphia Eagles

It’s been somewhat of a disappointing season for Saquon Barkley, but he had his 2025 coming-out party against the New York Giants in Week 8 (150 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards, 2 total TDs). He probably would have padded those Week 8 stats even more if he hadn’t suffered a groin injury at the end of the third quarter. Barkley sat out the fourth quarter and thankfully has a bye in Week 9. Should Barkley be forced to miss Week 10 due to his injury, it looks like Tank Bigsby has taken over as his RB handcuff. Bigsby had nine carries for 109 yards in the fourth quarter last Sunday. A.J. Dillon, who had been Barkley’s primary RB handcuff earlier in the season, was a healthy scratch in Week 8. Will Shipley was Barkley’s RB handcuff last season, but he has dealt with injuries this season and only had two carries in the fourth quarter in Week 8.