No one really likes running back handcuffs, at least not in the fantasy football world. Many owners tell themselves RB handcuffs don't matter on drafty day, but when your top pick gets hurt on the third play of the season, you'll wish you had a different draft strategy. At that point, all those rankings and sleeper lists were a giant waste of time because your season just got infinitely more difficult without your starter's primary backup. If only you had taken two more minutes to look at the Giants depth chart!
There's no perfect way to handle backing up your starters, and finding the right handcuff(s) isn't always easy. Some teams have multiple players in constant competition for the backup spot. Others will have a veteran there until they feel a rookie is ready to move up the depth chart. This means that everything in the chart below has some level of projection to it. Teams react differently to injuries, so it doesn't always follow a straight line.
It's also important to note that just because a running back gets the second-most snaps doesn't mean he's the only handcuff option. Third-down/receiving backs don't necessarily transition to every-down backs if the starter gets hurt. Think Chris Thompson and Tarik Cohen, who may never be primary RBs despite their pass-catching proficiency. Understanding roles and how certain players fit them is key, both during the draft and once the season starts.
We'll be here all year helping you navigate any tricky RB situations. Check back all season long for updates!
2019 fantasy football running back handcuffs
| Team | Projected Starter | Projected Handcuff |
| Arizona Cardinals | Kenyan Drake | D. Johnson/C. Edmonds |
| Atlanta Falcons | Devonta Freeman | Brian Hill |
| Baltimore Ravens | Mark Ingram | G. Edwards/J. Hill* |
| Buffalo Bills | Devin Singletary* | Frank Gore |
| Carolina Panthers | Christian McCaffrey | Reggie Bonnafon |
| Chicago Bears | David Montgomery* | T. Cohen/R. Nall* |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Mixon | Giovani Bernard |
| Cleveland Browns | Nick Chubb | Kareem Hunt |
| Dallas Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott | Tony Pollard* |
| Denver Broncos | Phillip Lindsay | Royce Freeman |
| Detroit Lions | Kerryon Johnson | B. Scarbrough*/W. Hills* |
| Green Bay Packers | Aaron Jones | Jamaal Williams |
| Houston Texans | Carlos Hyde | Duke Johnson |
| Indianapolis Colts | Marlon Mack | J. Wilkins/J. Williams |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Leonard Fournette | Ryquell Armstead* |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Damien Williams | L. McCoy/S. Ware/D. Thompson* |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Melvin Gordon | Austin Ekeler |
| Los Angeles Rams | Todd Gurley | Malcolm Brown |
| Miami Dolphins | P. Laird*/M. Gaskin* | De'Lance Turner |
| Minnesota Vikings1 | Mike Boone | Ameer Abdullah |
| New England Patriots | S. Michel/J. White | Rex Burkhead |
| New Orleans Saints | Alvin Kamara | Latavius Murray |
| New York Giants | Saquon Barkley | Javorious Allen |
| New York Jets | Le'Veon Bell | Bilal Powell |
| Oakland Raiders | Josh Jacobs* | DeAndre Washington |
| Philadelphia Eagles2 | Miles Sanders* | Boston Scott |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | James Conner | Benny Snell Jr. |
| San Francisco 49ers | Raheem Mostert | M. Breida/T. Coleman |
| Seattle Seahawks | Chris Carson | C.J. Prosise |
| Tampa Bay Bucs | P. Barber/R. Jones | Dare Ogunbowale* |
| Tennessee Titans3 | Dion Lewis | K. Blasingame*/D. Dawkins |
| Washington Redskins | Adrian Peterson | C. Thompson/W. Smallwood |
*Rookie
1 Starter Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and primary handcuff Alexander Mattison (ankle) will be out until at least Week 17
2 Starter Jordan Howard (shoulder) will be out until at least Week 17
3 Starter Derrick Henry (hamstring) will be out until at least Week 17