Welcome to the 2026 Week 9 RB Handcuff Report! With some speculation that several fantasy football running backs, including Jonathan Taylor, Tony Pollard, and Saquon Barkley, could be moved before the November 10th 4pm NFL trade deadline, a number of NFL RB handcuffs could step into lead fantasy football running back roles by Week 10. 

Injured reserve (IR) stints have been common among fantasy football running backs this season. Jeremiyah Love (high ankle sprain) and Jeremy McNichols (foot) are the latest IR additions, and each is sidelined for at least four games. If injuries are leaving gaps in your fantasy football team’s roster, check out Jacob Parry’s biweekly NFL Injury Report for the latest 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.

Mounting injuries continue to be a problem for fantasy football managers, but on a positive note, there are just two teams, the Titans and Steelers, on a bye in Week 9. 

As always, there’s plenty of fantasy football running back news to unpack. Let’s sort through the chaos and find the Week 9 RB handcuffs worth watching before you set your lineup.

2026 Fantasy Football Week 9 Running Back Handcuff Report

With the Cardinals placing Love on IR, Tyler Allgeier will likely take over as the team’s lead back for Week 9. He had a huge Week 8, rushing for 147 yards, and he added five catches for 44 yards. Allgeier also scored a rushing and receiving TD. Zonovan “Bam” Knight suffered a concussion during his Week 8 matchup, and his status for Week 9 is unclear as this article is being written. With James Conner (foot) still on IR, Allgeier’s Week 9 RB handcuff would be Evan Hull if Knight is inactive.

Josh Jacobs made his Packers season debut in Week 7 and led the team’s running backs by playing 52.2% of the available offensive snaps. His snap share rose to 71% in Week 8. MarShawn Lloyd was his handcuff for the past two weeks, a role worth watching after new allegations against Jacobs caused the NFL to announce an ongoing investigation into possible violations of its personal conduct policy. If the league eventually decides to suspend Jacobs, Kaleb Johnson, Pierre Strong and Chris Brooks, who is eligible to return from IR in Week 9, could all battle for playing time as Lloyd’s RB handcuff. 

The Seahawks’ backfield depth chart shifted in Week 8 with Jadarian Price returning from IR and Zach Charbonnet making his season debut. Emmanuel Wilson, the team’s lead back for several weeks, played seven special teams snaps. Roles in the Seahawks’ backfield remain unsettled, but Price logged 30 snaps and 10 carries, compared with Charbonnet’s 23 snaps and six carries. As the rotation takes shape, Price will likely lead on early downs, with Charbonnet handling a significant red-zone and passing-down role. Charbonnet would be Price’s RB handcuff in that scenario.

Based on Week 8 snap counts, the Vikings’ backfield looks like a three-headed monster, but actual touches and targets point to Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones being co-lead backs. For now, they appear to be each other’s RB handcuffs. DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne provide RB depth and could be future RB handcuffs should Mason or Jones Sr. be inactive.

After several weeks of our recommending Mike Washington Jr. as a top RB handcuff, he led the Raiders’ early-down rushing attack in Week 8 with 25 carries. Ashton Jeanty, previously the lead back, had just two carries but led the backfield in receiving, catching three of four targets for 64 yards. Jeanty’s lingering ankle and foot injuries have likely contributed to his 3.1 YPC through eight games. Head coach Klint Kubiak denied limiting Jeanty’s Week 8 snaps over his criticism of the Jets’ defense, saying future running back usage would follow a “moving target” approach. The backfield remains worth monitoring, but Jeanty now appears to be Washington Jr.’s Week 9 RB handcuff.

In last week’s article, we noted that Broncos head coach Sean Payton suggested that Jonah Coleman deserved more playing time. With 104 scrimmage yards and a TD, Coleman established himself as the team’s lead back in Week 8. JK Dobbins will almost certainly be Coleman’s Week 9 RB handcuff.

 

 

 

How to find the best RB Handcuffs

As we alluded to earlier in this article, we may see multiple lead fantasy football running backs traded before the NFL trade deadline. Keeping up to date with the latest news and trade rumors is a good method of identifying RB handcuffs who have the best chance of securing a path to a lead RB role. 

We’re also getting to a point in the season where several RBs who suffered early-season injuries are getting closer to being ready to return to action. 

Breece Hall, who has been sidelined since Week 3 due to a quadriceps injury, is expected to return to action in Week 9 against the Chiefs. Hall’s RB handcuff, Braelon Allen, had a huge Week 8 (147 rushing yards, 7 YPC) and has averaged just over 100 yards rushing and over two catches in the five games he started in Hall’s place. It will be interesting to note if Hall’s snaps will be limited in his first game back in what is expected to be a tough matchup.

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (core muscle surgery) could potentially have his 21-day practice window opened this week.

Cardinals RB James Conner (foot) won’t be active in Week 9, but the Cardinals are expecting him to play this season. With the Cards dealing with multiple injuries to their RBs, Conner could eventually return in a limited role as a RB handcuff when healthy.

Travis Etienne, on IR since Week 3 due to a hamstring injury, is eligible to return ahead of Week 9’s kickoff, but the Saints had yet to open his practice window as this article was being written. The Saints have a crowded backfield, and Etienne Jr. would reclaim a lead back role by the end of the season. That would potentially move Alvin Kamara or Kendre Miller into a RB handcuff role.

Khalil Herbert has emerged as a fill-in RB handcuff for Bijan Robinson with Brian Robinson missing the last two games due to a hamstring injury. Robinson Jr.’s status for Week 9 hasn’t been determined as this article is being written.

Corey Kiner might be Rhamondre Stevenson’s Week 9 RB handcuff when the Patriots take on the Packers this week. TreVeyon Henderson is dealing with an illness that sidelined him in Week 8, and his Week 9 status hasn’t been determined as this article is being written.

Top 5 RB Handcuffs for 2026 Ahead of Week 9

Kenny Gainwell, Buccaneers

Gainwell played a season-high 50% of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps in Week 8. He rushed for 140 yards (5.6 YPC), following an 88-yard outing (6.3 YPC) in Week 7. The Bucs have said they want to limit Bucky Irving’s workload to keep him fresh all season. Gainwell’s increased usage and production could earn him a larger role in Tampa Bay’s offense.

Seth McGowan, Colts

With the Colts in full rebuild mode, there’s speculation that they might opt to move Jonathan Taylor before the November 10th trade deadline. That would leave McGowan as the team’s lead back. McGowan played an average of 11% of the Colts’ offensive snaps in the first three weeks of the season. Since then, that average has increased to just over 27%. 

Blake Corum, Rams

Kyren Williams is still the Rams’ RB1, but Corum should be considered their RB1A. He has scored double-digit fantasy points in four straight games.

Chris Rodriguez, Jaguars

With Bhayshul Tuten (ankle/foot) likely a game-time decision for his Thursday night matchup against the Ravens, Rodriguez Jr. could find himself as the Jaguars’ lead back with Ameer Abdullah and LeQuint Allen Jr. serving as his RB handcuffs.

Devin Singletary, Giants

Cam Skattebo (hamstring) is another fantasy football running back who could be a game-time decision for Week 9. With Tyrone Tracy on IR, Singletary is Skattebo’s Week 9 RB handcuff. The recently signed Greg Desrosiers would likely be Singletary’s Week 9 RB handcuff should Skattebo be inactive.