The 2026 NFL season will kick off on Wednesday evening when the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl. The game will begin at 6:20 p.m. MT on Sept. 9 and will be nationally televised on NBC, which is available to stream on FuboTV.
Before the regular season arrives, fantasy football leagues across the country will be drafting this week as fans set their rosters for a long season ahead. To help prepare for those drafts, we're taking a quick look at 10 important handcuff running backs to consider this summer.
In fantasy football, a handcuff is a player who is in line to get a starting role (or significant reps) if the regular starter is ever unavailable. Because running backs often get dinged up during
the season, stashing a backup to a key starter can help you win your league — even if you don't roster the starter.
Here's a quick list of fantasy football handcuff running backs to target this season. The average draft position (ADP) for each RB is provided courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
10 best fantasy football handcuff running backs
1. Rams RB Blake Corum (ADP RB34): In terms of ADP, Corum is the most expensive handcuff running back on the list because he has standalone value as a flex option. Even if you don't land Kyren Williams (ADP RB13), Corum should be a priority target this season.
2. Raiders RB Mike Washington (ADP RB44): Even if Ashton Jeanty is able to return from an ankle injury in time for Week 1, Washington will be a valuable handcuff in case Jeanty is ever unavailable. Washington might be worth a flyer as a flex candidate even if Jeanty stays healthy.
3. Broncos RB Jonah Coleman (ADP RB47): Coleman is ranked this high simply because of his ADP. If J.K. Dobbins (RB32 ADP) stays healthy, Coleman probably won't have a large role as a rookie because RJ Harvey (RB31 ADP) will likely handle a lot of receiving duties. If Dobbins suffers another injury, though, Coleman could get an opportunity to take over RB1 duties after Harvey struggled with an increased workload when Dobbins was sidelined in 2025.
4. Falcons RB Brian Robinson (ADP RB49): If you use the first overall pick to select Bijan Robinson, it's extremely important to also secure his backup. If Bijan is ever unavailable, Brian would be a capable fill-in after totaling 3,341 yards from scrimmage and scoring 22 touchdowns through 58 games in the NFL.
5. Lions RB Isiah Pacheco (ADP RB52): You can stash Pacheco on injured reserve for the first four games of the season, and it would be a good idea to pick up Jacob Saylors (undrafted in most leagues) in the meantime. Similar to Robinson, if you draft Jahmyr Gibbs, it's imperative to also roster his backup.
6. Chargers RB Keaton Mitchell (ADP RB56): After showing flashes in Baltimore to begin his career, Mitchell will now rotate in behind Omarion Hamption in Los Angeles. Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has hinted Mitchell could have a key receiving role this season.
7. Jets RB Braelon Allen (ADP RB57): After showing promise as a rookie, Allen suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for 13 games last fall. Now healthy again, Allen is poised to serve as the RB2 behind Breece Hall in New York.
8. 49ers RB Kaelon Black (ADP RB59): Good luck trying to guess which running back San Francisco would turn to if Christian McCaffrey is ever unavailable. If you draft CMC, it would probably be wise to target both Black and Jordan James (ADP RB69). Black was just picked in the third round of this year's NFL draft, so he would be the priority.
9. Colts RB Seth McGowan (ADP RB87): Jonathan Taylor falls into the Robinson/Gibbs category of needing to carry a star's backup. DJ Giddens (undrafted in most leagues) might be worth stashing as well, but it looks like McGowan could be Indy's backup running back in 2026.
10. Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon (ADP RB90): Gordon's ADP represents a better value than Jaylen Wright (ADP RB74), and he's a bigger back with the potential for goal-line carries. The backfield doesn't seem to have a clear RB2 favorite, but it would be wise to add at least one of them if you use an early pick to select De’Von Achane.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: 10 important handcuff running backs in fantasy football
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