Landing marquee fantasy running backs is crucial to your success. The only thing more important than drafting a hit early in drafts, however, is securing some insurance in case a premium pick goes down.
Not all fantasy football running backs require a handcuff, and some simply aren’t easy to get. There are several situations where you absolutely want to nab a RB handcuff if you can help it, however.
Worried your stud running back might get hurt and you’ll be left holding the bag? Make sure you don’t leave your draft without the best fantasy football RB handcuffs for 2026.
Blake Corum – Los Angeles Rams
Corum went from draft bust to Pretty Good in one year. Playing behind Kyren Williams has had many leave him for dead, but he’s still in a powerhouse offensive system and earned 153 total touches last year.
There are whispers that he and Williams could be headed for a timeshare.
It’s truly unclear how the Rams wish to proceed, but Corum is more dynamic than Kyren Williams and there’s always a chance L.A.’s lead back goes down. I think the stand alone value is decent and Corum is a viable Flex play depending on the week, but he’d have a clear path to a top-10 role if Kyren ever bit the dust.
Braelon Allen – New York Jets
Allen is an interesting stash due to his aggressive running style and general explosiveness. He has not been very efficient since entering the league, but he was better in that regard last year before getting hurt.
Breece Hall is still a guy you need to invest a relatively early draft pick on, so protecting that investment with a talented RB you can nab late in drafts seems wise.
Isiah Pacheco – Detroit Lions
I am not a big believer in Pacheco, but I have Jahmyr Gibbs as the #1 guy in my 2026 fantasy football running back rankings. If you draft Gibbs early, you better get a backup plan.
Pacheco hasn’t been efficient since 2023, but he can handle a big workload if called upon. This is a true handcuff, as I’d otherwise want nothing to do with Pacheco. However, Gibbs is said to be Detroit’s “bell cow” and it remains to be seen how his body holds up under a bigger workload.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. – New York Giants
Cam Skattebo’s 2026 fantasy outlook is quite promising. He was a beast as a rookie before getting hurt, and new Giants head coach John Harbaugh has referred to him as “top tier”.
I want a lot of Skattebo in redraft leagues, but I’m also aware of his ankle injury, as well as the reality of how physical he plays. There’s a decent chance he gets hurt again, and if he does, you’ll want teammate Tyrone Tracy Jr. on your bench.
Tracy is a dynamic and explosive back that can slide into Skattebo’s role with ease. After cracking the top-30 in each of his last two seasons, he could absolutely smash if he was handed a huge workload and he may have decent stand alone value, regardless.
All of this makes Tracy Jr. one of the best RB handcuffs for 2026.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. – Jacksonville Jaguars
Bayshul Tuten is rising up draft boards. Eventually, the explosive second-year back could creep his way into the top-20 amongst running backs. I’m not here to predict where he goes, but I am here to say if you do draft him, you should be eyeing C-Rod as insurance.
It’s really unclear how Jacksonville wants to treat this backfield. What we do know, however, as that Rodriguez and Jags head coach Liam Coen have history, and Rodriguez can ball a bit. He was recently pegged for an “important role“, so perhaps he also has stand alone value.
One way or another, a healthy Chris Rodriguez looks like a top RB handcuff in fantasy leagues.
Brian Robinson Jr. – Atlanta Falcons
I am not expecting Brian Robinson Jr. to have a huge role for the Atlanta Falcons this year. I’m also not a big believer in his talent. However, Bijan Robinson is a stud, and you might be investing a top-two pick in him.
He’s got one of the best fantasy football team names for 2026, but he’s also perhaps the #1 player on the board. If you grab him, you can’t afford to lose him. Injuries do happen, however, and Bijan going down with a big injury is not impossible.
If that’s the case, Brian Robinson Jr. needs to be someone you target later in fantasy drafts. It won’t feel amazing wasting a pick on a guy that (hopefully) amounts to nothing, but landing an elite insurance policy is certainly not worthless.
Robinson, to his credit, has been relatively efficient outside of his rookie season, and he’s had some success as a goal-line back. In this offense, BRJ would thrive in an expanded role. It wouldn’t make you forget the demise of Bijan, but it could save your season.
Keaton Mitchell – Los Angeles Chargers
A lot of these fantasy football running back handcuffs are going to be totally wasted picks. I hope so, anyways, as any of these guys holding serious value means the death for a stud running back somewhere.
Obviously, that could happen with Chargers rusher Omarian Hampton, who has to be one of the most steamed picks of the year. I like Hampton just like everyone else, and am eager to see what new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel can do for him and the L.A. ground game.
Just as interesting, though, will be the role speedy back Keaton Mitchell gets. Some think he’ll be De’Von Achane light. Or at least a perfect back for McDaniel’s offense.
Maybe, maybe not. But Mitchell’s explosive nature does give him a chance for weekly stand alone value. He did return to his dynamic ways with 5.7 yards per carry in 2025, after all, while nobody will ever forget his insane 8.4 YPC average as a rookie in 2023.
But I’m not drafting Mitchell above ADP in the hopes he’s something more than a backup. I’m fine with stashing him late if I miss out on Hampton, but the more likely scenario is I am handcuffing him to a guy I would need to spend a late-first or early-second to land.
Mitchell is a solid Flex body to stash and use as needed. But Hampton going down could unleash a legit Achane-level bomb on the league.
Mike Washington – Los Vegas Raiders
The case is similar with Ashton Jeanty. He’s a total stud waiting to happen and you’ll need to invest an early pick to get him in 2026 fantasy drafts. Jeanty definitely disappointed last year as a rookie, but in a weird way he also kinda crushed (RB11 overall) considering the Raiders were an epic dumpster fire.
Virtually everything in Las Vegas got better. The Raiders upgraded under center, they brought in a new (better) coaching staff, and they got healthy. Jeanty should smash. If he’s healthy, that is.
If Jeanty crumbles, the door could be wide open for Mike Washington to be a league-winner. This is a dude who was incredibly explosive at Arkansas and could walk into a top-10 workload. If you draft Jeanty, you can’t play around. You need to handcuff Washington to him.
Tank Bigsby – Philadelphia Eagles
Saquon Barkley is slowly exiting his prime. I personally remain a believer and think he’s going to bounce-back, but I’m not above reproach. And Barkley has been known to get hurt.
When looking at Barkley’s age, injury history, and shaky 2025 run, it’s only fair to stretch your neck and think about the future. After all, sitting behind him is an explosive rusher who just averaged 5.6 yards per carry a year ago.
Bigsby has next to no value unless Barkley goes down. That said, I think he’s an amazing stash in dynasty leagues still, and a great handcuff if you draft Barkley early this year.
Emmett Johnson – Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson fits in the “murky situation” mold, but if there’s one RB handcuff worth discussing in that realm, he’s in. The uber athletic rookie was a freak at Nebraska, exhibiting insane body control, pass-catching chops, and explosive ability.
Dude is filthy.
I was shocked to see Johnson slide on draft day, and was disappointed to see him land behind Kenneth Walker II in Kansas City. Johnson will largely wilt away in year one, as the Chiefs handed KW3 a bag to upgrade their rushing attack.
The catch? Johnson is a freak and if he sniffs an actual role, he could go off. That isn’t an impossibility, either, seeing as Walker played a full season last year for the first time in his career.
Walker also costs a relatively early pick this year. I like Walker a lot in this new spot, but you can’t draft him without backing him up with Johnson.
Other RB Handcuffs for 2026 Fantasy Drafts
I’m not going to give you an endless list of fantasy football running back handcuffs. Above are the ones I like the most and would prioritize, and it’s a combination of talent and workload should the guy in front of them cease to exist.
A few of the guys I looked at even have stand alone value. But most other situations are too murky to properly assess. Do we want protection from Christian McCaffrey or Jonathan Taylor going down? Of course, but who do we turn to?
The same goes for guys like Derrick Henry and others. If it gets clearer exactly who would benefit, then we can get more excited to draft insurance plans. That doesn’t mean I won’t be grabbing guys like Ray Davis or Ollie Gordon if I draft the starter in front of them, but I’m also not going to stand firmly behind guys (or situations) I don’t believe in.
Playing DFS since the days of DraftStreet, Kevin knows the ins and outs of DFS, specifically for NFL and NBA. He’s also been helping people win in fantasy football leagues for 15+ years and is one of many experts featured at FantasyPros.
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