While the NFL season kickoff is just days away, it’s never too early to think about handcuffs and knowing the best backups to stash. Injuries to the running back position were unusually fewer than the wide receiver position at the top, which is the total opposite of previous seasons. With aging veterans and backs with lengthy injury histories, it’s smart to go after other managers’ backups or your own.
In fantasy football, smart managers don’t just chase starters; they stash the backups who could become league-winners overnight. Here’s your Week 1 handcuff RB rankings, spotlighting the most valuable insurance policies and upside plays.
Stash-Worthy Handcuffs
These backs may not be relevant this week, but they’re worth holding for long-term upside. They become an instant starting option if the starter goes down.
Zach Charbonnet– Team: Seattle Seahawks
While Kenneth Walker III is set to have a big season, injuries have derailed past seasons, and when he’s been out, Zach Charbonnet has been a top fantasy back. The Seahawks’ run blocking scheme, albeit in the preseason, looks like a better unit than in past years and starting off healthier, so getting a potential running back one later in drafts is worth targeting.
Both Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas are finally healthy to start the year, and even though they have a new center in Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford returns at right guard, and rookie Grey Zabel has already made his presence known in the preseason.
Charbs had nine games over double-digit fantasy points in PPR and is the bona fide second back in Seattle that can win you your week. He is a bench lottery ticket if Walker were to miss any sort of time, and is worth holding on to. With the new offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, his new scheme will likely be the total opposite of what they trotted out last year with Ryan Grubb’s offense.
Jordan Mason – Team: Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Jones Sr. was good as a starter, but the veteran back is a year removed from an 11-game season in 2023 but did start 17 games for the Vikings last year. However, with the new addition of a more talented back in Jordan Mason compared someone like Ty Chandler, there could be more reps between the two backs. The former 49er was a prime pickup last season in San Francisco that won weeks for fantasy managers.
With second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who is basically a rookie, I tend to believe Kevin O’Connell may focus on getting the run game going with an improved offensive line. Last season, Mason had four weeks of double-digit fantasy points and was an early-season starter. Late in drafts, like Charbs, is the perfect time to acquire a back like him or Mason.
KOC and 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan have similar offensive scheme tendencies in the run game, as the young back could eventually take a bigger workload as the season goes on. Minnesota also has a improved offensive line with rookie Donovan Jackson and free agents Ryan Kelly and Will Fries from the Indianoplis Colts.
Injury Watch
Keep an eye on this situation. If the starter is ruled out, the handcuff becomes a must-start.
Team Name: Miami Dolphins
Starter Name – De’Von Achane
Injury Status: Questionable
Handcuff: Player Name – Ollie Gordon II
While everyone is buzzing about rookie Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt from the Washington Commanders, rookie Ollie Gordon has turned heads this preseason in Miami. The Dolphins back steps in with Jaylen Wright out for a few weeks due to injury and although Achane is set to play Week 1, he was dealing with a calf injury lately. Even when Wright does come back, Gordon’s role is potentially set regardless as a efficient grinder back.
Gordon brings the boom as their power back, which is something Mike McDaniel needs in the run game to be more efficient in the red zone. Even if Achane stays healthy, touchdowns may go to the bigger back while the starter was a weapon as a receiver. While the offensive line is still a work in progress, Gordon could be their shining light on offense and a late draft or waiver wire pick up before Week 1.
Top 10 Pure Handcuff Rankings
I only included running backs are in defined backup roles to a known starter, so backs in ambiguous split or trio backfields I didn’t include for this list. Also players like David Montgomery are essentially starters themselves and have RB 2/3 or at worst flex appeal as a starter so they are not in this list either.
- Zach Charbonnet
- Jordan Mason
- Ray Davis
- Braelon Allen
- Trey Benson
- Ollie Gordon II
- Dylan Sampson
- Tyler Allgeier
- Rachaad White
- Will Shipley
Some backs do have late round draft picks behind them, but based on depth charts, I don’t see those handcuffs being threatened enough to lower their ranking compared to true split backfield committees. Come back for Week 2, as this will be a weekly series examining the top handcuffs and some potential pickups on waivers.
