Top-5 Handcuff Running Backs In 2024 Fantasy Football
The Best Handcuff Running Backs To Draft In 2024
I’ve always believed that filling up my bench with high-upside handcuff running backs is the optimal way to build a team in fantasy football. It doesn’t have to be the handcuffs to your own running backs. In fact, I actually prefer the handcuffs of backs that are not on my roster. That opens up the ceiling outcome for my team. Then, all it takes is for a starting running back to get injured and all of a sudden I have a new starter in my lineup. We see this happen every year. Sometimes it’s only for a few weeks, other times it’s for a long stretch. Either way, it can make a huge difference in the outcome of the season. Because I am so obsessed with hoarding these handcuff running backs, I set out to rank my favorites for 2024. Here are my top-5, plus a few honorable mentions.
It’s important to note that I’ve left off guys who are less of a traditional handcuff and will be in more of a split backfield. For example, Raheem Mostert, Jaylen Warren, David Montgomery, Brian Robinson/Austin Ekeler, Tyjae Spears, etc.
1. Blake Corum
Kyren Williams was a fantasy football sensation in 2023. But he’s a former late-round pick who tested with subpar athleticism and is undersized. It wasn’t shocking to see the Rams go out and use a Day 2 pick on a running back. I’m not saying Blake Corum is going to come in and push Williams aside and become the RB1 in Los Angeles right out the shoot. I’m not saying that’s not going to happen, either, but that’s a conversation for a different day. My thoughts on Kyren Williams are well documented at this point.
But let’s just say Williams remains the RB1. That makes Corum potentially the No. 1 handcuff running back in all of fantasy football. And Williams dealt with a number of injuries that forced him to miss games in 2023. He is not built for the full-time workload he was receiving. So it seems inevitable that he will miss games. That will open the door for Corum to step into the RB1 chair. We know Sean McVay tends to lean heavily on whoever is his starting running back. In fact, Williams led all running backs in both touches per game and snap share last year. If that is Corum for any stretch of time, he’s going to receive a ton of touches, much like he did over the last couple years at Michigan.
And that might be all it takes for Corum to take over the backfield altogether, even once Williams is healthy. That’s because Corum is just a better fit for what the Rams want from the running back position. He’s big, he’s tough, he’s athletic. He runs hard, protects the football, and can keep quarterback Matthew Stafford upright in pass protection.
Corum is a proven talent who is just waiting for his opportunity. Whenever that comes, he will be the bellcow running back with a 75%+ opportunity share in one of the league’s most explosive offenses. There are going to be red zone and end zone opportunities for whoever is leading this backfield.
Once the double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts come along, Blake Corum needs to move to the top of your priority list. He has league-winner written all over him.
2. Trey Benson
Trey Benson has all the elements that we look for in an elite, high-end handcuff. To start, he is backing up a fragile 29-year old James Conner. Even in his younger years, Conner has never been able to stay healthy for a full season. In fact, he has played more than 13 games in a single season just one time in his career. It feels like a pretty good bet that Benson is going to start games at some point in his rookie season.
Whenever that happens, he will instantly be starting in fantasy lineups as an RB2 with RB1 upside. He would immediately take on a bellcow workload in what I expect to be one of the NFL’s top-10 offenses. The Cardinals have a fully healthy Kyler Murray with improved weaponry and an upgraded offensive line. There are going to be plenty of fantasy scoring opportunities for whoever is leading the backfield.
Benson is a big running back at 216 lbs with 4.39 speed. He’s an aggressive runner who doesn’t go down easy and is an explosive run waiting to happen. That will be a perfect complement to Murray’s rushing ability, as well as the receiving elements of Marvin Harrison Jr and Trey McBride.
Benson needs to be a priority target for all zero RB drafters, but he’s really a great pick for anyone looking to add some upside to their bench, regardless of draft strategy. Benson’s ceiling is he becomes the starter in Arizona and is a league winner in fantasy football.
3. Zach Charbonnet
Zach Charbonnet came in as a second round pick in 2023 and had a solid rookie season as a complement to Kenneth Walker. The former UCLA Bruin will fulfill that same role in 2024 with a chance at even more touches. Charbonnet caught 33 passes as a rookie, a number that could be on the rise under a new coaching staff that promises to turn up the dials on the passing game. Compared to Walker, Charbonnet is the better receiver of the duo and stands to benefit from a more modern offense. With that said, Walker will continue to lead the backfield in carries and total touches, capping Charbonnet’s fantasy value, minus a Walker injury.
But that’s exactly why we are drafting Charbonnet. For that contingent upside. If Walker were to go down—he has missed four games in two seasons—Charbonnet would have zero competition in that backfield. He would be the full-blown bellcow, dominating the touches in both the run game and as a receiver out of the backfield.
Now, the Seahawks offensive line is questionable which is the only reason he isn’t higher on this list, but Charbonnet is skilled enough to overcome some blocking deficiencies. In fact, Charbonnet was top-15 in yards created per touch last season, while ranking No. 24 in yards per touch. He also found enough room to rank No. 21 in breakaway run rate (PlayerProfiler.com).
Volume would certainly be in his favor if he was asked to step in for Walker. In the two games that Walker missed last season, in addition to leaving early in another, Charbonnet averaged 16 carries and was targeted 12 times. He played more than 84% of the snaps in two of the three games. If Walker is forced to miss more time in 2024, Charbonnet would instantly become one of the few bellcow running backs in football. That is a coveted role in fantasy, which makes Charbonnet one of the best handcuffs available and a great target in the double-digit rounds.
More: 5 Players I Can’t Stop Drafting In 2024
4. MarShawn Lloyd
Rookie MarShawn Lloyd should have no trouble beating out AJ Dillon for the RB2 job in Green Bay. That puts Lloyd squarely in position to take on a significant role in one of the league’s ascending offenses if anything were to happen to Josh Jacobs. Jacobs missed four games with injuries last season while his efficiency metrics were down across the board.
If Lloyd were thrust into the RB1 job, he would be a weekly must-start in fantasy football. He is bursting with athleticism and raw talent. He’s a big back with sub-4.5 speed and an all-purpose skill set. He is difficult to bring down in the open field given his combination explosiveness, speed, size, strength, and lateral agility, making him nearly impossible to take down with a single defender. Lloyd can add value on passing downs as well, with quality hands and the ability to turn a check-down into a big gain.
He could even add some standalone value as a complement to Jacobs. Given his explosive traits, Lloyd wouldn’t need a ton of volume to become fantasy relevant. The real value, though, is in the case of a Jacobs injury. Jacobs has missed multiple games in every season except one. Even in that one season he seemed like he was popping up on the injury report with something new every week. With Jacobs’ running style, it’s no surprise that he gets nicked up often. Given that he has more than 1,500 career touches, Jacobs feels like a safe bet to miss some time. That will open the door for Lloyd to be the lead guy in a Green Bay offense that was No. 7 in touchdowns last season. He would be a weekly RB2 in fantasy football with the upside to score in the top-12 in any given week.
5. Tyler Allgeier
Tyler Allgeier was the apple of Arthur Smith’s eye last year. Smith couldn’t help but keep putting Allgeier on the field over Bijan Robinson. He even let Allgeier lead the team in red zone touches. But Smith is gone, and the new coaching staff has done nothing but talk up Bijan all offseason. That means, rather than being part of a dual backfield, Allgeier will be more of a traditional handcuff running back in 2024. And that’s okay.
Allgeier will play that role perfectly. He is the clear-cut No. 2 who would assume a workhorse role if anything were to happen to Bijan. We’ve seen him have success with that type of workload in the past so we know exactly what we are getting. Remember, back in his rookie 2022 season, Allgeier averaged a tick under five yards per carry on 210 rush attempts after taking over the backfield in the second half. That resulted in over 1,000 yards on the ground. He had five games of over 100 yards from scrimmage and finished the season with four-straight top-16 fantasy performances.
If Bijan were to go down, Allgeier would slide right back into a similar role. He would benefit from volume as well as some touchdown upside in what is expected to be a much improved Falcons offense. He would be a weekly starter in fantasy football and a guy you can trust for consistent top-24 performances. So while it looks like the standalone value won’t be there anymore, Allgeier still holds value as one of the top handcuff running backs in fantasy football.
Honorable Mentions
Kendre Miller
More than a pure handcuff, Kendre Miller could handle quite a few carries in a split backfield with Alvin Kamara.
Ray Davis
Ray Davis has a ton of touchdown upside even with James Cook in the picture. He could return RB2 value if Cook were to go down.
Rico Dowdle
Rico Dowdle is more likely to split the backfield work with Ezekiel Elliott than to operate as a pure handcuff. He could even lead the Cowboys in carries if Zeke just doesn’t have enough gas left in the tank.
Chase Brown
Chase Brown is going to split work with Zack Moss. He will handle the receiving duties while taking some carries as well. If I’m drafting a Bengals running back, it’s actually going to be Brown at a bit of a discount. He’s electric.
Ty Chandler
Ty Chandler could end up with more standalone touches than he’s currently being projected for.
Roschon Johnson
My love for Roschon Johnson will not die. He could legitimately push D’Andre Swift for starter snaps. With an all-purpose skill set, Johnson could be an RB2 in a good Bears offense if given the chance to lead the way.
Which handcuff running backs are you targeting in 2024? Join us on Discord and let’s discuss!
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