Another week, another shakeup at the running back position for fantasy, and that is no exception for Week 3, as injuries have mixed up some backfields already. Especially for the handcuffs, as some are becoming viable as flex plays, mostly coming off waivers or as a stash.
In fantasy football, smart managers don’t just chase starters; they stash the backups who could become league-winners overnight. Here’s your Week 3 handcuff RB rankings, spotlighting the most valuable insurance policies and upside plays.
Startable Upside “Handcuffs”
Tyler Allgeier could become a usable flex option if this usage stays put. Back-to-back weeks, he’s been pretty effective as a runner, and while Bijan Robinson is doing his thing as a top back in fantasy, it isn’t stopping Allgeier with his short-yardage, goal-line role.
Week 1, the young backup had 10 carries and added more with 16 in Week 2, usage that is different from the end of the 2024 NFL season, where Robinson saw most of the work. This is like his rookie year and the start of last year, where both backs serve a role (Bijan as a receiver) and Allgeier can be the grinder up the middle.
After the Jacksonville Jaguars traded Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles last week, Liam Coen made it clear that rookie Bhayshul Tuten will be the handcuff to Travis Etienne Jr., with rookie LeQuint Allen mixing in on third downs. While Tuten is not on waivers, most likely, if he is, the explosive speedster is worth adding to the bench and could rise in value in case of injury and/or if he finds the endzone again like in Week 2.
Tyler Allgeier– Team: Atlanta Falcons
Bhayshul Tuten– Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Injury Watch
Keep an eye on Washington and Minnesota, as their backfields have been impacted by injuries for Week 3 that will impact lineups. Aaron Jones is already ruled out with a hamstring, and Austin Ekeler is done for the year with a torn Achilles.
Jordan Mason goes from an RB1B in that backfield to the starter full-time, as he is an RB2 this week against the Cincinnati Bengals, basically a must-start. He was a great, reliable starter for fantasy last season as an RB1 with the San Francisco 49ers and can boom for big weeks as long as the young back lands in the end zone.
Rookie Jacory Croskey- Merritt is a different situation, as he wasn’t seeing that many touches against a tough Green Bay Packers run defense on Thursday Night. Eventually, he should become the starter, but don’t be surprised if they mix in Chris Rodriguez and/or Jeremy McNichols against the Las Vegas Raiders this week.
Washington Commanders
Starter Name – Austin Ekeler
Injury Status: IR (Out for Season)
New Starter: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Handcuff: Player Name – Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez, Chase Edmonds
Minnesota Vikings
Starter Name – Aaron Jones
Injury Status: Week-to-Week (Hamstring)
New Starter: Jordan Mason
Handcuff: Player Name – Zavier Scott
Rookie Corner: Henderson, Harvey Stock Down
Rookies TreVeyon Henderson and RJ Harvey haven’t seen the usage many hoped they would get. Somehow, at least for Henderson, it’s actually gone down, which is discouraging after Rhamondre Stevenson had a big game against the Miami Dolphins, likely to remain the starter moving forward. J.K. Dobbins seems cemented as the starter for the Denver Broncos after two good games.
22 and 25 Snaps from Week 1 for both rookies, according to Blitz Sports Media’s Snap Leaders (updated every Tuesday), will not get it done if they are going to be fantasy-relevant running backs. They are both bench stashes, hoping for the bye week bump for the time being.
Two other rookies that are rising the ranks from handcuffs to part-time but crucial role players include Cam Skattebo, who outscored Tyrone Tracy Jr. in fantasy, and Quinshon Judkins, who made his debut and looked good doing so in limited snaps, even with rookie Dylan Sampson taking a step back in usage.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (New Handcuff Tyrone Tracy?)
Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (New Handcuff Dylan Sampson?)
Top 10 Pure Handcuff Rankings
I only included running backs who 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.
The biggest note is that Kansas City actually has a mess of a time share, as former starter Isiah Pacheco and veteran Kareem Hunt might be each other’s handcuffs. Right now, I have Hunt as the handcuff for the Chiefs, but watch if they use rookie Brashard Smith more, making this an avoid backfield in general.
- Kareem Hunt
- Brian Robinson Jr.
- Trey Benson
- Kenneth Gainwell
- Rachaad White
- Ray Davis
- Najee Harris
- Blake Corum
- Braelon Allen
- Kendre Miller
