The 2023 Backup Running Backs and Handcuff Guide

2023 Backup Running Backs & Handcuffs To Know

The NFL is no longer filled with three down running backs who amass 75 percent or more of the workload out of the backfield for their respective teams. More often we see not only split backfields but even three-headed monsters that make it nearly impossible to project who is most valuable for fantasy purposes. It has never been more crucial to know not only the backup running backs and handcuffs are across the entire league but which ones stand out as the most talented of the bunch.

For the past three seasons, I have made this article and every year it has become more important. Today, I will go through the entire league and separate backs into three categories. There are five backfields in the NFL that are so crowded they deserve their own spotlight to try and decipher. Next, the players who may not be the starter in their respective backfields but should have weekly standalone value regardless of their backup status. Finally, the handcuffs are players who have little to no value unless the starter ahead of them on the depth chart goes down. Let’s dive right in!

(ADP Stats are provided by FantasyPros)

Ambiguous Backfields

There are five NFL backfields with no clear-cut starters to point to but should provide solid fantasy value throughout the season. Chicago, Miami, New Orleans, Detroit, and Philadelphia have all taken the committee approach in 2023. Some of these teams should produce multiple fantasy-relevant backs, but if we can find the true gem of the bunch, it could net us massive returns on investment.

Chicago Bears (Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, and Roschon Johnson)

One of the trickiest backfields to navigate this season for fantasy is Chicago’s trio of Herbert, Foreman, and Johnson. Heading into the offseason, it seemed clear that Herbert would get his shot at starting after the team allowed David Montgomery to walk in free agency. The 25-year-old bumped his yards per carry average from 4.2 during his rookies season to 5.7 last year. To make this feat even more impressive, he added 26 carries to his 2021 total. The third-year back is a solid receiver but has seen a low target share over the past two years, tallying only 28 in 30 games. The biggest issue with Herbert is he truly was the backup when Montgomery was healthy. He was incredibly impressive in relief of the veteran, but his limited time on the field could hold him back from taking over as the clear top option for the Bears.

D’Onta Foreman, on paper, could easily be the early-downs back for Chicago. The 27-year-old filled in for Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey over the past two seasons and has done a stellar job.

Piling up nearly 1,500 rushing yards in only 12 starts over two years, Foreman finally looked like the back he was drafted to be back in 2017 before going down with a torn Achilles. Racking up over 900 yards on the ground filling in for McCaffrey last season, who was traded at the deadline. The veteran is making $2 million in 2023, so his role as the starter is far from solidified. However, with little pass-game involvement, Foreman could become the two-down thumper who sees plenty of goal-line carries in the Chicago offense.

Rookie Roschon Johnson is the true wildcard in this offense. Already receiving plenty of praise as a receiver in camp, it seems clear that the 22-year-old will see the most targets out of the backfield. However, it is going to be an uphill battle to earn a high carry count. Herbert will also see his fair share of targets, eating into Johnson’s potential workload. The Texas-alum has plenty of upside, as many draft experts believe he would have been a top-tier draft prospect had he not been buried behind Bijan Robinson.

Overall, taking a shot on the Bears’ backfield will not cost you much. Herbert seems like the most versatile option and should have the most fantasy value early. However, with Foreman taking away valuable touches in the red zone and Johnson excelling as a pass catcher in camp, he is a tough sell and could be nothing more than a frustrating flex option. The clear value here seems to be the rookie. Johnson could easily chip away at the carry count of both Herbert and Foreman while taking over as the lead pass-catching back could make him a late-season breakout candidate.

Miami Dolphins (De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert, and Jeff Wilson)

The toughest backfield to decipher in all of fantasy is Miami. Both Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson were brought back this offseason, and the addition of rookie De’Von Achane has done little to help fantasy managers decide who to take in drafts.

Achane has received positive reports out of camp, with praise from coaches and teammates alike. The future of the running back room in Miami revolves around the young back. However, this is a high pass-volume offense that will rely on the veterans of Mostert and Wilson after they both had success in 2022. Achane seems to be an investment for use during the back half of the season rather than a day-one fantasy starter, but he carries the most upside of the three.

Raheem Mostert missed only one game last season, but the veteran is entering his age-31 season and has a checkered past with multiple injuries. While he is incredibly explosive, he split work with Wilson once the team traded for him at the deadline and both produced similar per-game numbers in terms of production per touch. Adding a rookie to the mix is going to make the veteran even more inconsistent for fantasy purposes.

Jeff Wilson is in a similar boat as Mostert. However, the 27-year-old is the cheapest option in drafts and has as good a chance as both Mostert and Achane to lead the team in carries. Wilson also excels in pass protection, earning him more reps in order to keep quarterback Tua Tagovailoa upright.

Achane clearly has the most upside in this offense and is the most complete back for fantasy purposes. At a 10th-round draft cost, you could do worse. (The shoulder injury that he suffered in week two of the preseason could drive his price down further, but you will need to keep an eye out for updates to know of his potential return date) However, do not set your expectations too high. There is a chance he never maxes out as more than a flex option in his rookie year with the two veterans taking valuable reps away. If you want to take a shot at one of the veterans, go for the cheapest option in Wilson since he was just as efficient as Mostert once he landed in Miami last season.

New Orleans Saints (Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, Kendre Miller)

After feeding Alvin Kamara almost exclusively last season, the Saints have retooled this RB room and made it tricky to navigate for fantasy purposes in 2023. Jamaal Williams lead the league in rushing touchdowns last season and broke the all-time record for rushing touchdowns in a single season for Detroit. After earning a 3-year $12 million contract this offseason, the veteran will see plenty of usage, especially around the goal line. Third-round selection Kendre Miller has been touted as the future replacement for Alvin Kamara and has a chance to prove his worth in the first three weeks of the season due to Kamara’s suspension.

Kamara has logged over 200 carries the past two seasons yet has had his lowest total of rushing touchdowns in his career during that time. He also was the least efficient he has been on a yards per carry basis, averaging just over 3.8 yards per carry. It seems the more work he has gotten, the less efficient he is. This happens with some backs in the NFL, they are better in smaller doses.

With that said, even with a smaller workload due to the additions of Williams and Miller, Kamara’s fantasy value could still be in serious trouble. Williams led the entire league in rushing touchdowns last year and will see the majority of goal-line carries. Hybrid player Taysom Hill will also see carries in scoring range just like he did in 2022. Miller may not take much work away inside the 20s, but he will see pass-game usage. All of this on top of the three-game suspension makes his mid-sixth-round draft price tough to swallow.

Williams seems to be the clear value here. While he is more of a two-down thumper that will have little pass-game usage, the scoring opportunities will be the most valuable part of his game in 2023. Consistency won’t be his strong suit, but it wasn’t last year either, and he finished as the RB8 overall.

Miller is by far the cheapest option but will take the longest to develop. There are more than a few rookie backs that will have far less competition to get past to be fantasy-relevant, making Miller more of a hopeful stash in case anyone gets injured in this backfield.

Overall, Kamara will cost you the most and carries the most risk. Grabbing Williams as a potential RB3/4 seems like a steal with the amount of potential goal-line touches he will receive. However, if all else fails and you just want a piece of this RB room, Miller will cost you the least and is a solid grab with your final positional pick in drafts.

Detroit Lions (Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery)

What we need to understand for this backfield in 2023 is that there is no true “starter”. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are “co-starters” and should be treated as such for fantasy purposes.

It is no secret that Gibbs is going to see a ton of volume in the passing game. The Lions‘ general manager has even gone so far as to call the rookie a “weapon” and not a pure running back. Targets are much more valuable than carries for RBs in fantasy football, so Gibbs will be the more expensive option with the highest upside.

The addition of the explosive rookie to this backfield should not deter you from looking Montgomery’s direction in drafts. Detroit spent $18 million over three years for the former Chicago Bear with full intentions of trading up in the draft to nab Gibbs. They wanted an explosive duo out of the backfield, and that is exactly what they got.

Montgomery projects to take most of the early downs work and work in around the goal line. Just last season, Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift finished inside the top 20 in average points per game. Montgomery and Gibbs are arguably a better duo and will be leaned on heavily, especially early on with the six-game suspension of WR Jameson Williams.

Both backs will be incredibly valuable for fantasy in 2023, but Montgomery is the one going as a clear draft-day value. Being able to grab an RB3 that can max out as a top 20 fantasy producer at the position in the seventh round is a no-brainer. However, do not hear what I am not saying. Gibbs’ draft price is perfectly reasonable. He projects to see over 60 targets, which is exactly what he will need to maximize his value in an attempt to finish inside the top 12 by the season’s end. The moral of the story here? Draft either guy, you will not be disappointed.

More: Managing Rookie Expectations: Running Backs

Philadelphia Eagles (D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny)

Many will argue that Kenneth Gainwell needs to be added to this list, and I totally understand it. However, as an Eagles fan that has seen nearly every snap of Kenny G.’s career, I can tell you that both Rashaad Penny and D’Andre Swift are far superior talents overall and the ones you need to pay attention to in drafts. If you want to take the late round flier on Gainwell, all power to you, but I will focus on Swift and Penny for the purposes of this article.

Penny and Swift had just about the same amount of value invested into them this offseason by Philadelphia, making it incredibly difficult to dub one the “starter”. Penny has seen the most run in the preseason, but Swift has been the most explosive back.

The former Seahawk should see the most carries in this offense while Swift works in and catches the most passes out of the backfield. Both are going to have value in one of the best offenses in the league, but one is going as the clear value compared to the other in fantasy drafts.

This is a similar situation to Detroit. Swift is being drafted higher due to his involvement in the passing game. However, it is important to note that Philadelphia did not pass often to their RB corps last season. Miles Sanders was less than steller as a receiver, and Swift is a massive upgrade to the offense in that regard, but there is a chance that he does not see enough volume to return value on his current ADP.

Penny is going over two rounds later and has a higher touchdown opportunity. However, he will have little involvement as a receiver and will not be a consistent fantasy producer. Both have high-end injury risk and are not workhorse backs. With that said, both carry solid fantasy value as a part of one of the best offenses in football.

Related: Zero RB: The Winning Draft Strategy For 2023 Fantasy Football

Backups with Standalone Value

Now that we are out of the backfields that are a jumbled mess, let’s move on to the backup RBs that have weekly standalone value despite sitting behind someone on the depth chart. All of these backs carry flex appeal weekly. While they have bigger workloads waiting for them if the starter does go down, they do not need an injury to occur to be started on your fantasy roster.

1. Antonio Gibson (WAS)
2. AJ Dillon (GB)
3. Samaje Perine (DEN)
4. Zach Charbonnet (SEA)
5. Ezekiel Elliott (NE)
6. Tank Bigsby (JAX)
7. Jerick McKinnon (KC)
8. Damien Harris (BUF)

Antonio Gibson

Starting with Antonio Gibson, the Commanders have made it clear that Brian Robinson will be the “starter” and handle the bulk of carries. Whether this is a mistake or not, Gibson has spoken out this offseason and has stated that he will handle the “JD McKissic” role. For fantasy, this could be incredibly fruitful. Just a few seasons ago in 2020, McKissic was the RB24 with fewer than 100 carries to his name and over 100 targets. I am not predicting 100 targets for Gibson, but there is a good chance he sees over 65 and should carry the ball more than 125 times, making him a weekly flex.

AJ Dillon

AJ Dillon had a disappointing 2022 campaign but did manage to turn things around over the back half of the season.

Dillon recorded 37.1% of his carries through these six games and gained over 39% of his rushing yards. He also scored six of his seven rushing touchdowns in this span. As someone who had to watch every Packers game last season to write game recaps, I can confidently say the Packers offense simply refused to put Dillon in during the early part of the season. As for why, I could not tell you, but they noticed the error of their ways and gave him the reps he deserved over the final six games of the season, and he produced solid results for fantasy managers.

2023 should see the Packers’ offense run the ball at a higher rate, and with that should come more carries for the 25-year-old. Aaron Jones has top-12 upside, but Dillon could easily finish inside the top 24 if he can find the end zone at a high enough rate.

Samaje Perine

If Javonte Williams is as healthy as the team is reporting, then there is a chance Perine slides down this list a spot or two. However, even with a completely healthy Williams, the former Bengal should have a successful fantasy season as a flex option weekly.

Not only does Sean Peyton use more than one back traditionally, but we have also seen many seasons where two rank inside the top 24 by season’s end. Perine was brought in to help take the load when Williams is out and to work heavily into the passing game. I consider Perine “Antonio Gibson-lite” in 2023, with the chance to rank as a top 15 back weekly if Williams misses time.

Zach Charbonnet

Pete Carrol loves to spend day two picks on running backs, even when he has a talented one on the roster. Both Kenneth Walker and Charbonnet have dealt with nagging injuries this preseason. However, there is no reason to worry about their availability for Week 1.

I am in the camp that despite how good the rookie can be in Seattle, Walker will see the bulk of carries and work around the goal line. With that said, Charbonnet should be used as a receiving threat often and will see more than enough carries to warrant being flexed on a weekly basis. The baked-in upside if anything were to happen to Walker is also sky-high, making him worth a later-round draft investment.

Ezekiel Elliott

After months of speculation, Zeke has finally signed with a new team. The veteran heads to New England to back up Rhamondre Stevenson and use his ability as a goal-line specialist to help the offense attempt to keep up with the rest of the stacked teams in the AFC East.

Elliott is nowhere near the back he was years ago, but he can still be a thorn in the side of Stevenson’s fantasy value while also maxing out as a weekly flex option. RBs not named Stevenson accounted for 144 carries and 31 targets. These are marks that Elliott should easily meet and potentially exceed, especially if Stevenson were to go down at any point.

Tank Bigsby

One of the most polarizing names on this list, Tank Bigsby is going to take fantasy managers on quite a ride this upcoming season. The rookie could arguably be moved up the list near the top after stellar preseason outings and some of the comments that have been made by the coaching staff thus far.

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson says it is “likely his (Tank Bigsby’s) role will expand as the season progresses.”

(Per @ESPNdirocco) pic.twitter.com/pkCBE0lcFo

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 20, 2023

Pederson has also stated that he believes starter Travis Etienne could push for “1600-1700 yards”, giving mixed signals to the entire situation. The bottom line is this, Bigsby is going to get carries in this offense. It may only be between 5-10 per game to start the season, but his role should increase, and if anything were to happen to Etienne, then he has top 20 RB written all over him.

Jerick McKinnon

If you do not know what McKinnon did for the Kansas City Chiefs last season, then here is a refresher.

The veteran was worked into the offense more after Clyde Edwards-Helaire went down. However, the receiving corps for the Chiefs leaves a lot to be desired this season, giving McKinnon the chance to thrive once again as a reliable target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. To be able to grab a piece of the Chiefs’ passing attack that is established in the double-digits rounds should be considered a crime, but here we are.

Damien Harris

I had Harris higher on this list before an injury cropped up, and veteran Latavius Murray started to get good press out of camp as a goal-line back. The Buffalo backfield is another tough one to figure out. The hype for James Cook is sky-high, and he should see the majority of carries for the team.

With that said, there is value here behind him on the depth chart. Harris is the best bet to return some fantasy value, but if Murray gets too many goal-line reps while also sharing those important carries with Josh Allen and Cook, then Harris is going to be a frustrating flex this year.

Related: 9 Gross Running Backs You Need To Draft In 2023 Fantasy Football

Handcuffs

We’ve made it! With the other backs out of the way, we can finally get to the clear-cut handcuffs for fantasy purposes. I’ll break these down into tiers this time around since the list is much longer.

Tier 1

1. Jaylen Warren (PIT)
2. Tyler Allgeier (ATL)
3. Chuba Hubbard (CAR)

The elite handcuffs. These three players are the ones that should carry top-15 potential if anything were to happen to the starter ahead of them and should be rostered in all leagues.

Jaylen Warren

Jaylen Warren could have easily been considered for the “standalone value” list, but with the workload Najee Harris is expected to receive, it is safer to treat him as a pure handcuff rather than try to flex him on a weekly basis. Warren has looked explosive this preseason and is a real threat to Harris if the run game stagnates as much as it did during the beginning of last season. He would easily have top-15 upside if Harris were to go down.

Tyler Allgeier

Tyler Allgeier sure did get the short end of the stick in 2023. Few 1,000-yard rushers are relegated to backup roles the following season, especially rookies, but Bijan Robinson being taken in the top 10 of the NFL draft has made that the reality for the second year back. Robinson will hold Allgeier to 5-8 touches weekly while healthy. However, if the worst were to happen and the rookie were to go down, Allgeier slots in as a top-20 RB immediately.

Chuba Hubbard

Chuba Hubbard may not have been as impressive as we had hoped two years ago when stepping in for an injured Christian McCaffrey, but he was solid pairing with D’Onta Forman after CMC was traded. With Foreman now in Chicago, the depth chart behind Hubbard is scarce, to say the least. Averaging nearly 5 yards per carry in his limited role last season, Hubbard will be treated as a solid RB2 if Miles Sanders were to miss any time in 2023.

Tier 2

1. Elijah Mitchell (SF)
2. Gus Edwards (BAL)
3. Zamir White (LV)
4. Tyjae Spears (TEN)

Elijah Mitchell

I so desperately wanted to put Elijah Mitchell in Tier 1 because of how productive he has been when healthy. Unfortunately, he has dealt with injury again this preseason, and teammate Jordan Mason is making some noise in his absence. Mitchell was netting nearly 10 touches per game with CMC healthy last year and should be an RB2 if anything were to happen to the superstar back. However, because he has such a checkered injury history, he is not a top-tier handcuff.

Gus Edwards

There is an argument that can be made that Gus Edwards has standalone value. With that said, it looks like it will be the J.K. Dobbins show once the season kicks off, making it tough to have confidence in flexing the veteran on a weekly basis. Last year was a lost season for both players, but Edwards has done particularly well in camp and is widely considered the RB2 in Baltimore. He is an affordable handcuff to pair with a player in Dobbins who has played in only 23 games the past three seasons.

Zamir White

Zamir White has looked fantastic this preseason and has given the Raiders something to look forward to after they part ways with superstar Josh Jacobs. While the veteran is still holding out of camp, reports state that he is likely to be back prior to opening weekend. With Jacobs ahead of him, White has little to no value weekly. However, there is a chance he maxes out as a top 15 option if Jacobs misses time. Ameer Abdullah would take away receiving work, making him a Tier 2 handcuff rather than Tier 1, but White has the talent to be a solid RB2 for fantasy managers if given the chance to start.

Tyjae Spears

If you haven’t watched Tyjae Spears play this preseason, I highly suggest doing so. The rookie looks like he is shot out of a cannon every touch and is a solid pass catcher. We all know Derrick Henry will get way too much work for Spears to be considered anything more than a handcuff in 2023. However, if the veteran goes down at all, Spears is an RB2 regardless of the matchup.

Tier 3

1. Chase Brown (CIN)
2. Joshua Kelley (LAC)
3. Keaontay Ingram (ARI)
4. Jerome Ford (CLE)
5. Devin Singletary (HOU)
6. Ty Chandler (MIN)

Tier 3 is the land of misfit toys. There is a chance these players carry solid value for fantasy managers if the starter in front of them were to go down, but there is no guarantee that they will get enough work as the clear starter to have top-24 upside.

None of these players truly pull away from the others in this tier. Chase Brown, Joshua Kelley, Keatonay Ingram, Jerome Ford, and Ty Chandler all should see the majority of carries if the starter ahead of them goes down. However, none are uber-talented and could easily lose work to other backs on the roster if they do not pop early.

Devin Singletary is not a player I am overly excited about, but I will acknowledge the fact that some will argue that he has standalone value in Houston. The veteran will likely see the most work weekly out of all these backs with the starter healthy, and he is a decent asset in the passing game. If Dameon Pierce goes down, then Singletary is a fringe RB2, but nothing more.

Tier 4

1. Matt Breida (NYG)
2. Zach Evans/Kyren Williams (LAR)
3. Rico Dowdle/Deuce Vaughn (DAL)

This final Tier is one you can essentially avoid. None of these players have a guaranteed path to touches. Los Angeles and Dallas’ RB room is so hard to predict behind the starter that I can not confidently tell you who you should grab as the ”handcuff” to Cam Akers or Tony Pollard. You do not need to prioritize drafting these players. but they need to be listed so we can keep an eye out for them on the waiver wire.

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