The fantasy football playoffs are just around the corner, and fantasy managers who are set to make a deep postseason run need to be thinking ahead of the rest of their league! Who are the top handcuff — or insurance — RBs that you need to stash on your bench to get ahead of a waiver wire rush? Let’s dive in.
The Best Handcuff RBs To Roster in Fantasy Football
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Zach Charbonnet is currently a bit more than a handcuff RB because he’s actually seeing the majority of the touches in his backfield as Kenneth Walker III is battling an oblique injury. However, Walker should be set to return to the lineup within the next couple of weeks and resume RB1 duties for this Seattle Seahawks offense.
When Walker returns, Charbonnet needs to remain on your roster as a valuable stash in the event that Walker battles through another injury in the fantasy playoffs. Charbonnet faced a tough matchup on Thanksgiving and failed to make an immense impact, but the volume was there, and that’s an encouraging sign if he were to ever see the lead role in this backfield again.
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Rico Dowdle is absolutely flying under the radar in fantasy football leagues right now. He’s looked the part in his limited opportunity this season, but he’s just not seeing enough work to work his way into the Flex conversation on a weekly basis. However, if something were to happen to Tony Pollard, there would be a mad dash for Dowdle on the waiver wire.
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There’s a strong chance that you can go out right now and scoop up Dowdle for free in your league after waivers have run on Wednesday morning. Drop a WR that you’ve been stashing for a while now that’s never going to see your starting lineup and add Dowdle for the potential payoff if he were to inherit the RB1 role in one of the league’s best offenses.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
Kareem Hunt has seen just enough work week in and week out to remain in the mid-range RB3 conversation, but he’s not doing enough with the limited volume he has to be viewed as anything more than that. If Jerome Ford — who has clearly taken the lead role in this backfield — were to miss time, though, Hunt would instantly move up the rankings.
Hunt’s days of producing like he did in his rookie season with Kansas City are well behind him, but he can still be a viable fantasy starter with a substantial workload, and that has value on fantasy rosters. If he’s available in your league, scoop him up and stash him now.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Seemingly every week, we have talked about Tyjae Spears on The PFN Fantasy Football Podcast as a waiver wire addition. While he’s not seeing enough work to have stand-alone value, he has immense upside if Derrick Henry were to miss time with an injury.
That still applies as we move into the later months of the 2023 NFL season. If Spears were to inherit 15+ touches in this offense every single week, we could see him produce as a top-15 RB in fantasy lineups. If I have the space on my bench, I’m stashing him just in case.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Tyler Allgeier is rostered in the majority of fantasy football leagues, but he’s most likely the most valuable handcuff RB going into the fantasy playoffs. Bijan Robinson’s a superstar in the making, and Allgeier’s clearly taking a backseat to him in this Atlanta Falcons offense, but Allgeier’s shown that he can be efficient with his opportunity.
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If Robinson misses time with an injury down the stretch, Allgeier would instantly move up into the top-20 RB conversation, at the very least. After rumbling for over 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season last year, we know that he can produce for fantasy if he’s given the majority of the touches.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
D’Andre Swift took a backseat to Kenneth Gainwell in Week 1, and then Gainwell has essentially barely seen the field since that point. However, we did see some solid production from Gainwell in that Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots, and he could be a viable fantasy starter if Swift were to miss time with an injury.
The Philadelphia Eagles are absolutely rolling right now on offense, and the volume would be there for Gainwell, with only Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny as the other threats for touches in this backfield if Swift were to exit the picture. If you’re in a deeper format, Gainwell’s worth stashing now while very few others are thinking about him.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell seemed to be the clear handcuff option for Christian McCaffrey going into the year, but that’s now not as clear as we head towards the fantasy playoffs. Mitchell’s durability woes have held him back from seeing much work when McCaffrey comes off of the field, and Jordan Mason has potentially jumped him on this depth chart.
It’s worth discussing Mitchell — and Mason — because plenty of fantasy managers will be wondering who to handcuff CMC with, but it’s not a crystal clear answer. If you’re in a deeper format and you can roster both, that’s an ideal situation. Otherwise, you may have to pick one and hope that it’s the right decision. My choice at this time would still be Mitchell over Mason.
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots
Ezekiel Elliott is one of the players who is seeing enough volume to provide stand-alone Flex value if you’re in a pinch, but he also presents some upside if the starter above him on the depth chart goes down with an injury.
Rhamondre Stevenson has been producing for fantasy football lately, but if he misses time in the fantasy playoffs, Zeke would instantly inherit 15+ touches each week. With a matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 16, Zeke’s an intriguing stash if he’s somehow available in your league.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
