Handcuffs? RB Variety

Handcuff running backs are backups who are often one injury to their team's starter away from suddenly becoming high-end fantasy football assets. Of course, individual talent level, offensive scoring upside, and general team philosophy with deploying committees all factor heavily into each unique equation, making the process of tiering handcuff running backs more of an art than science.

But, hey, if it were easy, everyone would do it! Accordingly, let's make today a great day to be great and break down the five tiers of handcuff running backs ahead of the 2026 season. Note that players are listed in order of ranking preference inside each individual tier.

Tier S: FLEX with Benefits

You can probably already start these guys in the FLEX if needed, and the ceiling is the moon if their competition misses time.

• Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson

• Bears RB Kyle Monangai

• Steelers RB Rico Dowdle

• Rams RB Blake Corum

TreVeyon Henderson's up-and-down rookie campaign still featured him showing off some tantalizing big-play upside with 17.6 PPR points per game (RB7) during Weeks 10-18 last season … Kyle Monangai turned 29 touches into 198 total yards in his only game without D'Andre Swift; he averaged 13.7 opportunities per game across da Bears' final 10 contests … Rico Dowdle overtook Chuba Hubbard early in 2025 and supplied some BOOM performances, something that is on the table again in Pittsburgh with old friend Mike McCarthy … Blake Corum is essentially a Kyren Williams clone and actually managed to carve out an average of 11.2 opportunities per game in Weeks 7-18 

Tier A: One injury away from being on the cover of waiver wire articles

Standalone value is possible. But if RB1 goes down? We're looking at RBs capable of winning leagues thanks to a blend of scoring upside and three-down ability.

• Broncos RB RJ Harvey

• Vikings RB Jordan Mason

• Jaguars RB Chris Rodriguez

• Buccaneers RB Kenneth Gainwell

• Texans RB Woody Marks

• Giants RB Tyrone Tracy

• Lions RB Isiah Pacheco

RJ Harvey returned RB8 production following the team's Week 12 bye, but could Jonah Coleman complicate the picture behind JK Dobbins? … Jordan Mason was quietly the RB6 in Next-Gen Stats' rushing yards OVER expected per carry and could find much touchdown success in a better edition of this Vikings offense … There's potential for Chris Rodriguez to see plenty of standalone work from his old college coach, although the best-case touch ceiling looks capped due in part to the elite pass-pro talents of LeQuint Allen … Kenneth Gainwell has the sort of explosive pass-catching ability that fantasy managers dream of seeing in a full-time role—that's on the table if Bucky Irving struggles to stay healthy again … Rookie-year Woody Marks was painfully inefficient as a rusher, but still handled at least 15 touches in all but two of his final 10 games … Tyrone Tracy averaged 18.1 opportunities per game following Cam Skattebo's season-ending ankle injury … Isiah Pacheco is the only RB behind Jahmyr Gibbs on the Lions depth chart with more than 10 career touches.

Tier B: THE, backup running back, y'all

These men would step up into their team's RB1 role should their starter miss time, but don't expect any level of standalone value before then.

• Eagles RB Tank Bigsby

• Falcons RB Brian Robinson

• Raiders RB Mike Washington

• Cowboys RB Malik Davis

Tank Bigsby's advanced rushing metrics have been NICE over the past two seasons, although Will Shipley could factor in on passing downs … The other B Robinson in Atlanta is capable of handling a big role; just realize fireworks aren't expected inside the NFL's reigning 24th-ranked scoring offense. … Mike Washington didn't get the Day 2 draft capital that his truthers hoped for–at least he's the clear next-man-up behind Ashton Jeanty … Malik Davis relegated Jaydon Blue to healthy-scratch status during the second half of 2025.

Tier C: There's a favorite, but we have questions

We don't know. We can't know. But I've got my suspicions. I've got my f*cking suspicions.

• Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks

• Titans RB Tyjae Spears

• Cardinals RB Tyler Allgeier

• Browns RB Dylan Sampson

• Bills RB Ray Davis

• 49ers RB Kaelon Black

These are all the favorites for handcuff duties; just realize there's at least one bright-ish red flag for each in the health (Jonathon Brooks), early-down trustworthiness (Tyjae Spears, Dylan Sampson) and/or additional competition (Tyler Allgeier, Ray Davis, Kaelon Black) departments.

Tier D: We're saying there's a chance

Expect a committee of sorts should the starter go down, but there's at least some intrigue.

• Chargers RB Keaton Mitchell

• Chiefs RB Emmett Johnson

• Jets RB Braelon Allen

• Bengals RB Samaje Perine

• Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd

The respective frontrunners for No. 2 duty, albeit clarity is murky for all parties involved, as is each player's ability to handle a three-down workload if it were to come to fruition.

Finally, the Saints, Seahawks, Dolphins, Ravens, Colts and Commanders headline situations that should gain clarity as we get into August. But for now, it's tough to have much, if any, confidence in the actual pecking order for all parties involved.