We are in the thick of the fantasy football offseason, but roster building never sleeps. While depth charts have yet to be determined, it is important that we begin to figure out how running back workloads will play out, especially when looking at the running back handcuff landscape.
As we have seen, the NFL is employing more of a two-back approach, with the Detroit Lions and their 1-2 punch of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery being the prime example. Keeping starters fresh is becoming the name of the game for NFL offenses, which means secondary running backs are seeing more time on the field.
Let’s break down a few of the battles for running back handcuffs across the league to help you better understand which options are worth investing in, and which are no more than depth-chart fodder. In all of the following sections, there will be a list of names that include the handcuff options; for the name that is bold, that is the player you should invest in/target, as he will be the main beneficiary of any excess work that the team’s starter does not take.
2025 Running Back Handcuff Tandems
Baltimore Ravens
Starter: Derrick Henry | 10th Year
Justice Hill (7th Year) | Keaton Mitchell (3rd Year)
Ol’ reliable Derrick Henry is entering his 10th year in the league, and after signing a two-year extension this offseason, looks ready to tote the rock for the Baltimore Ravens. Somehow only 31 years young, Henry has an exorbitant amount of miles on his tires, which means that the end is likely on the horizon, making his backup extremely important.
However, Henry still isn’t showing signs of slowing down, and the Ravens obviously don’t think so either. Thankfully for both Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell, they excel in the one area Henry does not – the passing game.
Both Hill and Mitchell have held passing-game roles for the Ravens, with Hill’s being far more extensive. While Hill is the more reliable option, Mitchell is the firecracker that can easily take a screen pass the entire length of the field (or close to it), giving the offense another layer of speed. But Mitchell’s crutch is health, as his torn ACL back in 2023 limited his return last season to only 5 games.
Hill and Mitchell both get the nod here as running back handcuffs in Baltimore; Hill looks to be the clubhouse favorite to be Henry’s backup, but Mitchell is the upside player that is basically free in dynasty football right now.
Cincinnati Bengals
Starter: Chase Brown | 3rd Year
Tahj Brooks (Rookie) | Zack Moss (6th Year) | Samaje Perine (9th Year)
While it is the Chase Brown show for the Cincinnati Bengals, the depth chart behind him remains a bit murky. With veterans Zack Moss and Samaje Perine vying for scraps, the Bengals also added Texas Tech rookie Tahj Brooks in the 6th Round. Of these three running back handcuffs, Brooks has the best long-term value, especially with Moss and his uncertain health.
Moss was just placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list as he continues to recover from his season-ending neck injury that ended his year early in 2024. Having reworked his contract this offseason, Moss seemed destined to have a role for the Bengals in 2025, but his health might make it so that he doesn’t make the roster out of camp altogether.
Bringing Perine back to an offense he is familiar with on a two-year deal isn’t nothing, as the former Sooner spent three of his seasons with Cincinnati. His role likely will be in the passing game, an area that Moss can contribute in but isn’t the strongest at.
For Brooks, the Moss injury opens the door for a potential role right out of the gate. If Moss doesn’t recover from his injury, then Brooks is next in line as the handcuff to Brown, with Perine there to hold down a passing-game role. Head coach Zac Taylor obviously felt that the backup role needed competition, and for Brooks, his collegiate workload should paint an optimistic picture of how he can contribute if given a chance.
Houston Texans | Running Back Handcuff
Starter: Joe Mixon | 9th Year
Nick Chubb (8th Year) | Woody Marks (Rookie)
It is quite an old backfield down in Houston, as the Houston Texans are relying on two veterans that have each been in the league for seven-plus seasons. With Joe Mixon and newly-signed Nick Chubb headlining this group of running back handcuffs, there is still a role for rookie Woody Marks in the equation.
Mixon is the lead dog in Houston who missed three games last season and was placed on the NFI to start camp, so there is a track record for HOU’s RB1 to miss some time. Finishing as the RB17 last year, Mixon is riding high after two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and should be able to make it three in a row.
For Chubb, he is looking to put his catastrophic knee injury behind him and take another stab at returning to his star form. A backup role as the team’s thumper could be exactly what he needs, and a one-year deal should offer Chubb enough motivation to do what he can to turn things around.
This leaves Marks, who enters the NFL after an illustrious pass-catching career at USC where he caught 47 passes for 321 yards. Having spent his first four seasons at Mississippi State, Marks recorded 60, 83, 48, and 23 receptions while with the Bulldogs, so he is more than capable of earning (and holding down) the third-down role for the Texans offense.
Both Chubb and Marks should be able to see the field this year, especially with Mixon not being the healthiest option. Marks is the clear passing-down option in this backfield, giving the USC rookie good upside right out of the gate.
Indianapolis Colts
Starter: Jonathan Taylor | 6th Year
DJ Giddens (Rookie) vs. Khalil Herbert (5th Year)
While there is no doubt who the starting RB is for the Indianapolis Colts, the depth behind Jonathan Taylor is very important. Taylor has only played one full season in his five-year career (2021), giving whichever back is directly behind him on the depth chart a safer floor than most handcuffs heading into 2025.
Having re-signed veteran Khalil Herbert and used a fifth-round selection on DJ Giddens, it looks as though the Colts weren’t content with their RB depth chart. While Herbert has more miles on the tires as the veteran of the group, Giddens has the higher ceiling and would fare better in an elevated role if Taylor was injured.
The battle will likely play out through all of training camp, but your money should be on Giddens to eventually earn the backup role behind Taylor. His skill set is better suited in the RB2 role, as Giddens is more athletic and looks to be a better pass catcher than Herbert. But don’t be surprised if Herbert is listed as the backup for the first week, as the rookie likely will need to earn his chops in practice before jumping up the depth chart.
Even though Herbert is the better pass blocker of the two, Giddens’ talent alone should get him onto the field for third-down work, which is the easiest way for the rookie to see the field. As the Colts struggle through quarterback issues yet again, look for an elevated emphasis on the run game to help involve Giddens as he is one of the few rookie running back handcuffs this season.
Kansas City Chiefs
Starter: Isiah Pacheco | 4th Year
Kareem Hunt (9th Year) | Brashard Smith (Rookie) | Elijah Mitchell (5th Year)
Ever since their failed first-round experiment with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the Kansas City Chiefs have strayed from investing capital in their running back room, which means Isiah Pacheco will again be the team’s starter in 2025. But a deeper depth chart at this position could mean that there will be more volatility behind Pacheco, even if these running back handcuffs all have their limitations.
Kareem Hunt was brought back on a one-year deal this offseason, giving the Chiefs a security blanket that stepped in last season after Pacheco went down. Entering his ninth season, Hunt is far from explosive but has the trust of Andy Reid and the coaching staff, which goes further than talent in this organization.
Elijah Mitchell was signed to a cheap deal in free agency, as the former 49ers back has shown flashes but hasn’t been a regular contributor. Offseason comments from general manager Brett Veach shows that the coaching staff may try to fit Mitchell into a Jerick McKinnon-lite role in the passing game, something that could give him fantasy relevancy.
SMU rookie Brashard Smith is the wild card of this group, as his pass-catching acumen stands out the most. While rookies sometimes struggle to get their feet on solid ground, especially at RB, Smith likely will battle Mitchell for a passing-down role in his first season.
Hunt is the direct handcuff to Pacheco, and the pecking order between Mitchell and Smith will be an interesting storyline to follow in camp. Expect Hunt to be the early RB2; my money is on Smith to work his way into the passing-game role as the season goes on, but not right away.
Miami Dolphins
Starter: De’Von Achane | 3rd Year
Jaylen Wright (2nd Year) vs. Ollie Gordon (Rookie)
De’Von Achane is being talked about as a potential RB1 overall threat, and there is plenty of evidence for it. His explosiveness has been on full display in his first two seasons, and he has only gotten more involved in the passing game for the Miami Dolphins. But the depth chart behind him is lacking, giving this group of running back handcuffs a low ceiling if Achane is healthy.
Second-year pro Jaylen Wright is far more physical than Achane but did not look good in limited action this past season. While he was fighting Raheem Mostert for secondary work, Wright was unable to really make an impression. But Mike McDaniel and this coaching staff saw something with the former Tennessee Volunteer, so it’s safe to say they want to see what they can get from him in Year 2.
Rookie Ollie Gordon will likely be given every chance to unseat Wright as Achane’s handcuff, and Gordon’s 2023 Oklahoma State tape shows you his upside. If how Wright’s season is any sign of what’s to come for Gordon, it might be a slow start to his NFL career, but he should factor into things early on.
My money is on Wright to carve out the backup role behind Achane, even with Gordon and Alexander Mattison in the committee. Mattison really isn’t anything but a veteran insurance policy, and if Gordon looks solid and consistent in camp, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Mattison be a training-camp cut, taking this group of running back handcuffs down to a battle of two.
New Orleans Saints | Running Back Handcuff
Starter: Alvin Kamara | 9th Year
Devin Neal (Rookie) vs. Cam Akers (6th Year) vs. Kendre Miller (3rd Year)
As is the case with Henry, Alvin Kamara just keeps on chugging right along for the New Orleans Saints. Entering his ninth season, Kamara has been the only consistent part of this stagnant offense ever since Drew Brees retired, and 2025 looks to be more of the same. Quarterback issues and an overall lack of offensive skill player talent gives Kamara a front-row seat to once again be the best player on this offense by a long shot, with no credible threat from any of the following running back handcuffs.
But behind him is a bit messy, as free-agent signee Cam Akers joins the battle with Kendre Miller and rookie Devin Neal.
For Neal, his sixth-round draft capital feels a bit light for how he performed at Kansas, and he should be able to make an impression on rookie head coach Kellen Moore. Neal’s contributions in both the running and passing games with the Jayhawks should translate well to the NFL, as he should be able to to wiggle his way into Kamara’s backup by season’s end.
Signed to a one-year deal, Akers is the best player of this group at this current moment, but has bounced around the NFL for a reason as he cannot seem to find a long-term landing spot. While he is most likely the most well-rounded of the bunch, Akers doesn’t jump off the page when looking at this depth chart, but is probably going to get the first shot in the preseason to prove why he should back up Kamara.
Miller is still (facetiously) reeling from the unnecessary hate that ex-head coach Dennis Allen cast his way ever since he was drafted. Needing to dig himself out of a hole ever since, Miller’s upside is that of an NFL running back that is probably on his last chance with the team that drafted him. He hasn’t been able to put it all together on the field, and his lack of availability has made it tough for anyone to get a read on what he can be.
Neal might not break camp as the RB2 behind Kamara, but his skill set (I see him as a Kamara-lite player) should help him assume that role as the season goes on. Akers, based solely on him being the most veteran of these options, most likely will be Kamara’s shadow in Week 1, but don’t expect for that to last long. This grouping of running back handcuffs doesn’t instill a ton of confidence, which should lead to another heavy workload for Kamara in 2025.
In Case You Missed It!
If you want to know what to expect for rookie RB production this season, from handcuffs or full on starters, check out this historical deep dive by Steven Pintado:
