2024 Fantasy Football Handcuff Rankings

What if every team’s starting running back got injured at the same time? How would we rank each team’s backup considering the team’s collective situation?

That is the scenario that we will explore today. Running backs are frequently injured in football, which makes the ability to identify the best handcuffs in football an edge in fantasy football. This article isn’t a pure “Who has more value heading into 2024,” but instead focuses on the players who could take over a backfield (or be stuck in a rotational role) if the projected starter was forced to miss an extended time.

So which backups have the best upside in fantasy if the starter were to miss the season? Read below to find out.

2024 Fantasy Football Handcuff Rankings

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

David Montgomery is listed as the starter on the Lions depth chart and will again handle the early down role in Detroit in 2024. That makes the top choice for this article extremely easy to identify.

Jahmyr Gibbs posted 182 carries for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns with 52 receptions for 316 yards and a receiving score his rookie year while splitting the backfield with Montgomery. However, we got to get a glimpse at what the Lions offense would look like if the veteran missed time, leaving Gibbs with the bulk of the backfield work. The results were fantastic.

The rookie hit a 60% or higher snap share in his three games as the lead back, including back-to-back weeks with a 70% and 87% snap share.

Gibbs’ three-down skillset and pairing with an elite offensive line and underwhelming depth at running back makes him an excellent value even splitting time with Montgomery. He’s a candidate for RB1 overall if Montgomery is forced to miss an extended time.

2. Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

One of the most valued roles in fantasy football is the Rams backfield, given how much Sean McVay likes to utilize one running back if possible. Over the years we have seen Todd Gurley and Kyren Williams churn out top-end production with the lead role in the backfield.

That makes Blake Corum one of the premier handcuff targets in fantasy football in 2024. Physically, there aren’t many better comps for Kyren Williams (5-foot-9, 194 pounds) than Corum (5-8, 200). Stylistically, both running backs are straight-line, one-cut runners who can produce behind an excellent offensive line.

Corum enters the NFL fresh off a national championship operating as the centerpiece of the Michigan offense. The rookie totaled 674 carries for 3,737 yards and 58 touchdowns in his career, even if there were some efficiency struggles in his final season as he recovered from a 2022 knee injury.

The only other running back of consequence on this roster is long-time pass catcher/special teamer Boston Scott, so if Williams were to suffer an injury, Corum would be poised to absorb the majority of the work in this backfield. This feels like an appropriate time to mention that Williams has had several significant injuries that have caused him to miss several games over his first two NFL seasons.

The lack of competition, strong offensive line and checkered injury history of the starter elevate Corum to one of the top handcuffs in the NFL in 2024.

3. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

Tyjae Spears was an early tout in the offseason among fantasy managers after the Titans moved on from Derrick Henry. The Tony Pollard signing cooled some of the hype, but this is still one of the best handcuffs in football should Pollard suffer an injury.

Spears carved out a solid role in the backfield as a rookie, especially as a receiver complementing Henry in the run game. He finished the year with 100 carries for 453 yards and two touchdowns while adding 52 receptions on 70 targets for 385 yards and a receiving score. However, what stood out was his efficiency as a runner.

According to PlayerProfiler, Spears was sixth in yards per touch (5.5), fourth in juke rate (26.3%), fifth in breakaway run rate (7.0%) and yards created per touch (4.58). The Titans invested heavily in offensive line improvements during the offseason and have just Hassan Haskins and Julius Chestnut behind Sears on the depth chart.

Should anything happen to Pollard, Spears would be poised to earn a bell cow role on what should be a formidable rushing offense in 2024.

4. Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals

Trey Benson was taken by the Arizona Cardinals during the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft to provide immediate depth and possibly serve as the team’s future starting running back. Benson has excellent size (6-foot-1, 211 pounds) and speed (4.39 40-yard dash) but was a part-time contributor during his two seasons at Florida State (310 carries for 1,896 yards and 23 touchdowns and 33 receptions for 371 yards and a touchdown).

Benson will undoubtedly be stuck behind James Conner in 2024 after the veteran running back posted a career-best season (208 carries for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns with 27 receptions for 165 yards and two receiving scores). However, Conner has a lengthy injury history, which should give Benson plenty of opportunity to see a role in 2024.

Should Conner be lost for an extended time, the Cardinals have very little in terms of competition to steal touches in the backfield from Benson. Both DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter could earn roles in the passing game, but neither figures to take on a considerable workload.

5. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks ran a split backfield in 2023, leaning on Kenneth Walker while getting experience for Zach Charbonnet (108 carries for 462 yards and a touchdown with 33 receptions for 209 receiving yards. Last season, we got to see two starts from Zach Charbonnet as Walker navigated an injury. The result was production that looked a lot like a bell cow running back.

We expect the Seahawks offense to be better with a new offensive coordinator and several acquisitions along the offensive line. More importantly, the backfield competition is cleared with just 2023 seventh-round pick Kenny McIntosh and a couple of UDFAs heading into training camp.

Should Walker go down for an extended time, then it would be a green light for Charbonnet to own the backfield production in Seattle.

6. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson will be the unquestioned workhorse in Atlanta in 2024, but Tyler Allgeier’s situation in the running back room looks improved at first glance. Sure, Allgeier will likely struggle to replicate his normal role in the offense from 2023 with a new coaching staff (186 carries for 683 yards and four touchdowns) that will lean on Robinson more throughout the game. But should anything happen to Robinson, Allgeier will get the green light to take over the offense.

The firing of Arthur Smith also led to the departure of Cordarrelle Patterson in the backfield, which leaves far less competition for backup touches in the red zone. It seems unlikely that special teamer Avery Williams and 2024 sixth-round pick Jase McClellan will carve out a significant role, even in an injury situation.

We are just one year removed from Allgeier hitting a 1,000-yard season as a rookie and now have a two-year sample size of him being an efficient receiver out of the backfield. If Robinson were to miss time with an injury, he would surely be locked into the top-20 weekly running back rankings in Atlanta’s backfield.

7. Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

James Cook is once again expected to soak up most of the between-the-20s work in fantasy as the Bills’ running back. Last season, backup duties were split between Damien Harris and Latavius Murray until Harris went down with a season-ending injury.

In 2024, the backfield will be far less complicated if Cook gets injured. Harris retired in the offseason and the team let Latavius Murray walk in free agency, replacing them with 2024 fourth-round rookie Ray Davis in the draft. Davis started his college career with middling production before having two excellent seasons with Vanderbilt and Kentucky over his final two years. Since 2021, Davis has handled 431 carries for 2,171 yards and 19 touchdowns.

What isn’t brought up enough with Davis is his pass-catching acumen. Over his final two seasons in college, Davis posted consecutive seasons of at least 29 receptions and 200 receiving yards. He scored 10 receiving touchdowns over that time, seven of which came in 2023.

Davis would be competing with UDFA Frank Gore Jr. and veteran journeyman Darrynton Evans for touches in the backfield. As it stands, Davis would have a high-end weekly upside in Buffalo’s offense and could be one of the best handcuffs to target in fantasy this season.

8. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaylen Warren has proven to be one of the most efficient running backs in the NFL over the last two seasons and has a standalone role in fantasy. However, the presence of Najee Harris means he will struggle to produce a high-end fantasy outcome outside of PPR leagues.

If Harris were to be injured, then Warren would see an increased workload in the offense. While his efficiency would certainly dip, the increased volume in fantasy would see Warren posted as a weekly top-12 running back for the duration of his time as the starter.

The only reason Warren isn’t higher on this list? Arthur Smith made sure to bring Cordarrelle Patterson with him to Pittsburgh. And while Patterson’s biggest contribution in 2024 will likely come on kick and punt returns, Smith isn’t afraid to utilize his size and speed out of the backfield.

9. Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings signed Aaron Jones in free agency to serve as the team’s lead running back. However, Jones has a laundry list of injury concerns and played in just 11 games last season due to hamstring and knee injuries. That gives Chandler massive upside in the backfield as a handcuff.

Chandler got a chance to get a significant role increase down the stretch of 2024, starting the final four games of the season with the Vikings. Ultimately, the results were mixed.

Chandler was productive working out of the backfield, totaling 53 carries for 258 yards and two touchdowns and posting eight catches on 10 targets for 69 yards. Even with the bigger role, the Vikings made sure to manage his workload. Chandler had two games with 12 or more carries and two games with eight or fewer.

The Vikings do still have Cam Akers on the roster, which means Minnesota at least has another experienced back that can handle the early down role, leaving Chandler in a rotational role again. However, there is always a chance that the team could give Chandler more work as they try to determine the future of the backfield.

10. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Jonathon Brooks was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft but was recently placed on the NFI list ahead of his first camp. Brooks can be taken off the list at any time, so it is hard to say that his season is in any serious jeopardy. However, there is a very real chance that Brooks will miss time ramping up to full health and could be used sparingly until he’s at full strength.

Hubbard got to see a major role in Carolina’s offense last season thanks to the struggles of Miles Sanders. The veteran had 238 carries for 902 yards and five touchdowns while adding 39 receptions on 44 targets for 233 receiving yards. The Panthers offensive line was atrocious last season, but these are solid numbers for a player who was widely viewed as a pure backup.

Hubbard may once again be in line for a significant role as Brooks heals up. His only competition once again is Miles Sanders, who fell out of favor quickly with the last coaching regime after struggling.

11. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

Jerome Ford had a solid showing after Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury in 2023. The second-year running back posted 204 carries for 813 yards and four rushing touchdowns while adding 44 receptions on 63 targets for 319 yards and five touchdowns.

Ford is expected to lead the backfield as Chubb recovers from his knee injury, which is why he appears on this list. The reason why he isn’t higher after a solid showing (and a strong offensive line) is the additions Cleveland made to the backfield this offseason. D’Onta Foreman has shown over the last two seasons that he can be effective when he’s on the field, especially in the red zone. The combination of Nyheim Hines and Pierre Strong Jr. also has enough pass-catching talent to force Ford into a timeshare as well.

Ford has more competition for touches this season, so his fantasy appeal as a handcuff is less despite him showing he can provide strong production in 2023.

12. Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots

Antonio Gibson could see a major role in 2024 if Rhamondre Stevenson suffers another injury-plagued season. Stevenson suffered a high-ankle sprain in 2023 and played in just 12 games. It was the second time in three career seasons he failed to play more than 12 games.

Another injury could give Antonio Gibson his best chance at significant playing time since 2021. That season, Gibson had 258 carries for 1,037 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while adding 42 receptions for 294 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

This is a running back who fell out of favor with the Commanders’ coaching staff but has a true three-down upside with explosive speed. Gibson has shown far more talent than JaMycal Hasty and Kevin Harris in the backfield. Gibson is just one injury away from being on the fantasy radar and in the conversation as a top-24 back weekly.

13. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon was traded during the offseason with veteran Zack Moss being brought in as a replacement. Moss is coming off a fantastic season with the Colts with 183 carries for 784 yards and five touchdowns and 27 receptions for 192 yards and two receiving scores. However, Moss has a history of injuries and inconsistency as a player, which could lead to an increase in playing time for second-year running back Chase Brown.

Brown had a rotational role in his rookie season but showed the ability to generate explosive plays in that short time. The rookie averaged 4.1 yards per carry and 11.1 yards per reception in his 12 games played. Brown has appeal as a receiving back but showed that ability during his final seasons in college with Illinois. Brown could split time with veterans Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans in the receiving game but would have the weekly volume role that we crave in fantasy.

14. Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

The 2023 season was a disappointment for Austin Ekeler. The veteran running back played in just 14 games and handled 179 carries for 628 yards and five touchdowns while adding 51 receptions for 436 yards and an additional score. Ekeler struggled through injuries behind a bad offensive line but also looked like he lacked explosiveness throughout the season.

Ekeler landed with the Commanders this offseason on a two-year deal to serve as the complementary back to Brian Robinson Jr. The Commanders’ offensive line isn’t much better than the 2023 Chargers, but the presence of a dual-threat quarterback should certainly help.

If Robinson were to get injured, Ekeler would have an extended opportunity to dominate touches out of the backfield once again. The only other running back with draft capital on the roster is 2023 sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was a favorite of the last coaching regime that got fired and has no ties to the current coaching staff.

Ekeler may not have his fastball anymore, but he could provide solid fantasy production if he gets an increased role in the offense.

15. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers have a workhorse running back in Rachaad White, which makes their handcuff role a high-value pick. The Buccaneers invested in their offensive line this offseason and Baker Mayfield isn’t afraid to check down to running backs in the passing game.

The most likely player to take on a larger role in the offense if something happens to Rachaad White is 2024 fourth-round pick Bucky Irving.

Irving was fantastic as the running back with Oregon throughout his career, finishing with 475 carries for 2,937 yards and 20 touchdowns with 95 receptions for 785 yards and five receiving scores. Oregon was 11th in the NCAA in scrimmage yards in 2023 and has experience taking on a full workload.

Irving had an underwhelming showing at the combine (5-foot-9, 192 pounds with a 4.55 40-yard dash) which pushed him into the fourth round of the NFL draft. The Buccaneers have just Chase Edmonds and Sean Tucker in the backfield behind him, which makes him the most likely option to take over the backfield.

The lack of size and athleticism are concerning for Irving, but there aren’t many hurdles to him having a big role in Tampa Bay if Rachaad White goes down with an injury.

16. MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers

The Packers spent the offseason overhauling their backfield, signing Josh Jacobs in free agency and drafting MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Jacobs will function as the unquestioned starter of this unit with Lloyd likely having a role in the offense as a change of pace back. However, if Jacobs goes down with an injury, there is a great chance that Lloyd will see his role grow significantly.

AJ Dillon has had four seasons to prove that he is a good NFL running back but has failed to stand out in his career. Dillon has three straight seasons with at least 175 carries but has seen his yards per attempt drop each season, culminating in a career-worst 3.4 yards per attempt in 2023. Dillon would certainly have a role if Jacobs were to get injured, but Lloyd would take on the bulk of the backfield and receiving work, giving him a solid floor to operate from.

17. De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

In terms of talent and upside, De’Von Achane would be in the top two regarding talent and fantasy upside. Achane played in 11 games as a rookie, handling 103 carries for 800 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 27 receptions for 197 yards and three scores. Achane averaged 7.8 yards per carry during his first season and led running backs in breakaway run rate (12.6%) in his first season.

So why is Achane not higher on this list? It seems unlikely that he would take on the full Raheem Mostert role in Miami’s offense should Mostert go down with an injury due to his size and the depth chart behind him.

Having Mostert and Achane in the backfield didn’t stop Miami from adding another explosive back, Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright, in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. Like the other running backs, Wright is an extremely explosive running back who can take any run to the house. He also has the size (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) and speed (4.38 40-yard dash) to have an immediate impact.

Wright likely won’t see much work as long as everyone is healthy but could certainly handle early-down carries in his first season. That caps Achane’s upside as a handcuff.

18. Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers

No running back in the NFL has a workload like Christian McCaffrey. In 27 games with the 49ers, the veteran has averaged 16 carries and 5.5 targets per game. He’s amassed 2,205 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns while also providing 119 receptions for 1,028 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. McCaffrey has had an excellent run of good health, but he’s had his share of injury issues in the past.

If McCaffrey were to go down with an injury, the primary running back role would likely go to Elijah Mitchell. The fourth-year running back has struggled with injuries of his own (27 games played over his first three seasons), but has shown the ability to provide a workhorse role when healthy (207 carries for 963 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie) and is an explosive rusher.

Mitchell’s injury issues (and the presence of veteran Jordan Mason and 2024 fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo) make it hard to rank him higher on this list, but if he can figure out how to stay on the field he would have huge upside with an unproven depth chart behind him.

19. Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears

Chicago signed D’Andre Swift this offseason and all indications are he will handle the bulk of the work in the backfield after doing just that during his lone season with the Eagles (229 carries for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns). 2023 was Swift’s only season with more than 13 games played, so understanding Chicago’s backfield hierarchy could be big for fantasy managers.

There is a lot of speculation that Khalil Herbert can be a cut candidate before the 2024 season, but as it stands, he is on the depth chart and listed as the primary backup.

Herbert has made the most of every opportunity he has gotten when given a role in Chicago’s rushing attack. The fourth-year running back has played 42 games in his first three seasons with Chicago, averaging 4.9 yards per carry over 364 career opportunities. Herbert offers little as a receiver (and would likely surrender that work to 2023 fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson), which makes it hard to push him up this list.

20. Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys let Tony Pollard walk in free agency, opting to bring Ezekiel Elliott back to the team after a mostly successful season with the Patriots (184 carries for 642 yards and three touchdowns with 51 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns). Elliott has been reliable and healthy throughout his career, but he’s getting older, so his injury risk is rising. Should he get hurt, Rico Dowdle would likely move into a larger workload.

Dowdle flashed a bit in his third season with the Cowboys, handling 89 carries for 361 yards and two touchdowns and adding 17 receptions on 22 targets for 144 yards and two receiving touchdowns. The Cowboys lack much talent behind him on the depth chart (2024 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn and veteran Royce Freeman), which would lead to something close to a full-time role.

There are plenty of questions surrounding Rico Dowdle’s talent given his limited playing time through his first three years. The Cowboys are also frequently rumored to be interested in veteran running backs and would likely bring one in to handle a portion of the backfield.

21. Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

Injuries annihilated Kendre Miller’s first NFL season, limiting him to just eight games. Miller was able to flash over those games (41 carries for 156 yards and one rushing touchdown with 10 receptions on 11 targets for 117 yards). Miller should have standalone value throughout fantasy regardless of Alvin Kamara’s health but may not have an elite upside should Kamara get injured.

Jamaal Williams struggled to earn a role in New Orleans in 2023 after signing a three-year, $12 million contract before the 2022 season. The veteran had 106 carries for 306 yards and one touchdown in his first season with the team thanks to an injury and Alvin Kamara’s overall health. If Kamara were to get injured, Williams would certainly earn a greater role on the offense. He’s just one year removed from a 1,000-yard rushing season and a league-leading 17 rushing touchdowns with Detroit. There is also an ever-looming threat of Taysom Hill absorbing the high-value goal-line touches.

Miller is an exciting young running back, but even with injuries, it is hard to imagine him taking on a bell-cow role in 2024.

22. Braelon Allen, New York Jets

Breece Hall will dominate the touches in the Jets backfield, so much so that he’s being drafted in the first round of fantasy drafts. Identifying his backup could have a massive impact on fantasy.

The leader in the clubhouse for the backup role is 2024 fourth-round pick Braelon Allen. Allen was exceptional at Wisconsin during his career, handling 597 carries for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns in his three college seasons. There are questions about Allen’s explosiveness and receiving ability, so his inheriting a true three-down role as a rookie would require quite a bit of projection.

The Jets have another rookie (fifth-round pick Isaiah Davis) and second-year (Israel Abanikanda) running back on the team who could also take on a role in the offense. All three could enter a timeshare situation without Hall, which makes this an unappealing role.

23. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants

Devin Singletary will be the lead back for the Giants and the depth behind him is relatively ambiguous. Eric Gray had an unremarkable 2023 season (17 carries for 48 yards, six receptions for 22 yards) and 2024 fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr. played just one season as a full-time running back during his six years in college.

Tracy was getting first-team reps in OTAs and has enough size (5-foot-11, 201 pounds) to handle the bulk of the workload, but his lack of experience is hard to trust without seeing training camp play out. Tracy could take on a bell cow role but will most likely wind up in a timeshare with Eric Gray with an injury to Singletary.

24. Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers overhauled their running back room this season, adding veterans Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins and 2024 sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal. The Chargers should have a run-heavy approach with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman in charge of the offense, making this a valuable fantasy backfield to figure out.

Edwards figures to get the bulk of the work throughout the season, but the depth pieces behind him are more ambiguous. Vidal was highly productive during his college career at Troy (781 carries for 4,010 yards and 33 touchdowns in his career), but his status as a Day 3 rookie doesn’t guarantee a lot of work. J.K. Dobbins is coming off another terrible injury in 2023 but is familiar with Greg Roman during their time in Baltimore. Dobbins is supposedly healthy and could carve out at least a partial role if Edwards gets injured.

Vidal is the handcuff to target, but it’s hard to say he gets a considerable role in the offense if the starting running back goes down.

25. Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have one of the league’s best offensive lines and an extremely fantasy-friendly offensive environment. Saquon Barkley was signed to operate as the three-down workhorse in the backfield but has struggled to stay healthy during his six NFL seasons. An injury to him would immediately elevate his backup to an RB2 status if we knew how the backfield would shake out.

The Eagles drafted Clemson’s Will Shipley in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after he had three strong years of college production. He proved to be one of the best-receiving backs in the nation and could easily take the lead role in case of an injury. However, the Eagles have never been afraid to divide work among running backs and have an experienced veteran (Kenneth Gainwell) who will certainly have a role.

Philadelphia will utilize multiple backs if Barkley gets injured and will still have Jalen Hurts in the run game. There is a chance this backfield will be a mess should anything happen to Barkley in 2024.

26. Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans

Dameon Pierce was a disappointment last season, losing his job to Devin Singletary and averaging just 2.9 yards per carry in his second season. The Texans traded for Joe Mixon to handle their backfield in 2024 and all indications throughout the offseason are he will operate as a workhorse.

If Mixon were to get injured, the player to most benefit would be Pierce in 2024. Pierce was much better as a rookie (4.3 yards per carry) and has at least shown he can produce at the NFL level. However, last season was bad enough to make us question his fit in the Texans’ offense. He could also get moved into a rotational role with more explosive players (Dare Ogunbowale and sixth-round pick Jawhar Jordan).

Targeting the Texans’ offense is a great idea in 2024, but this backfield is Mixon or bust for fantasy.

27. Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens running back room is always a plus for fantasy regardless of the talent receiving the touches. Derrick Henry will be the lead back and handle the majority of the workload.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear second back and the team would likely utilize a committee.

Justice Hill is currently listed as the RB2 due to his experience with the Ravens. Hill is averaging 4.6 yards per carry in his four professional seasons and is coming off his best professional season. Eventually, Keaton Mitchell will return from his knee injury after averaging a ridiculous 8.4 yards per carry on 47 carries last season. The team also drafted Rasheen Ali out of Marshall in the fifth round of the draft after a highly productive college career.

If Henry gets hurt, there is a great chance that Baltimore will rotate all their other pieces in the backfield making this a tough situation to target in fantasy.

28. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco has developed into a three-down running back over his first two seasons. In two seasons, Pacheco has carried the ball 375 times for 1,765 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 57 receptions for 374 yards and two scores. Pacheco is a power runner who invites contact, so securing his backup could have big implications in fantasy.

The Chiefs backfield behind Pacheco is impossible to trust with Jerrick McKinnon gone. The Chiefs brought back former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire after four seasons of underwhelming production. They also return 2023 UDFA Deneric Prince and practice squad stash Keaontay Ingram. They also added a rugby player (Louis Rees-Zammit) with zero football experience.

Any combination of those running backs can contribute if Pacheco goes down with an injury. Additionally, the Chiefs were working Kadarius Toney in the backfield during the early training camp practices. This situation is a mess and hard to trust for fantasy.

29. Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders

Zamir White is expected to get the lead role in Las Vegas next season, but he’s unproven and has no track record of receiving production in his NFL or college profile. The Raiders’ backfield could have interesting fantasy upside but could also get very messy if White were to get injured.

Veteran running back Alexander Mattison is likely to see the early down work if White were injured, but it is hard to trust his ability to contribute in fantasy after a brutal 2023 season with Minnesota (180 carries for 700 yards). Even if Mattison takes on the lead role, he’s likely to lose pass-catching work to Ameer Abdullah or Dylan Laube.

White has an abundance of upside in fantasy, but this backfield feels like a stay-away situation in fantasy if he goes down with an injury.

30. Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tank Bigsby struggled in his rookie season, averaging 2.6 yards per carry and recording two fumbles on 50 carries. Bigsby inconsistently played throughout the season, often losing work to D’Ernest Johnson when Travis Etienne needed a break.

The coaching staff has been hyping Bigsby up throughout the summer, but this will be a hard situation to trust in fantasy if Etienne is injured. Bigsby was truly awful in his first season and Johnson remains on the depth chart. Jacksonville also used a fifth-round pick on Keilan Robinson after four years of rotational work at Alabama and Texas in college.

The ambiguity combined with a subpar offensive line could be a disaster in fantasy if the team is forced to play without Etienne.

31. Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ offensive line is one of the best in the league, but this backfield is one to avoid in fantasy if Jonathan Taylor goes down with an injury.

Trey Sermon figures to be the primary backup heading into training camp, but he’s had an unremarkable professional career after being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Sermon has handled just 78 carries in three seasons, but he is averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He has very little pass-catching upside, so second-year running back Evan Hull would likely see a role on passing downs as well.

An injury to Jonathan Taylor makes this a split backfield with the primary rusher likely being quarterback Anthony Richardson. That makes it hard to trust in fantasy.

32. Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos

Samaje Perine is more talented than ranking 32nd on this list, but there is a chance he isn’t even with the Broncos in 2024. Denver has second-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin and also added rookies Audric Estimé (2024 fifth round) and Blake Watson (UDFA) this offseason. All three can contribute in some form next season.

The Broncos are projected to have a bad offense with Bo Nix, making this team a general avoid in fantasy.