It was another relatively quiet day for running back injuries in Week 9, which is a good thing.
We never want to wish injuries on any player, and the NFL is such a brutal league. Running backs, in particular, deal with a significant amount of wear and tear on their bodies, which is the nexus for this article in the first place. That said, any week where we come away from it almost completely injury-free (Cam Akers being the exception) is a good week.
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Fantasy Football Running Back Handcuff Rankings (Week 10)
Handcuff Notes From Week 9
Now, here is what I saw at the position this week, followed by the handcuff ranks for Week 10 :
- I have often highlighted the Colts in the blurbs below the handcuff list, so I will avoid doing that again this week. Just know Jonathan Taylor played on 75% of the snaps and had 23 total touches and a receiving touchdown. If not for the Colts scoring two defensive touchdowns, Taylor might have been a smash this week.
- Akers looks to be lost for the season with a torn Achilles, which pushes Alexander Mattison back into bell-cow territory. The Vikings looked frisky with Joshua Dobbs on Sunday, so I will walk back what I said in this article last week. Ty Chandler is the new handcuff in Minnesota.
- Rachaad White played 81% of the snaps handling 24 touches for 119 total yards and two touchdowns. He is in a true workhorse role for a Bucs team with a defense that looks very leaky right now.
- There were more signs of life from Rhamondre Stevenson Sunday when he ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run. The Patriots need to find a way to get the ball in his hands more, as 13 touches aren’t nearly enough.
Handcuff Rankings
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) – It will be interesting once David Montgomery returns.
- Zack Moss (IND)
- Zach Charbonnet (SEA)
- Kareem Hunt (CLE)
- Jaylen Warren (PIT)
- Elijah Mitchell (SF)
- Tyler Allgeier (ATL)
- Keaton Mitchell (BAL)
- Tyjae Spears (TEN)
- Joshua Kelley (LAC)
- AJ Dillon (GB)
- Devin Singletary (HOU)
- Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN)
- Ezekiel Elliott (NE)
- Miles Sanders (CAR)
Baltimore Ravens
- Starter: Gus Edwards
- Handcuff: Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell
There is a lot to pull apart from Baltimore on Sunday. Gus Edwards scored 17.2 fantasy points on 14 snaps, which is obviously unsustainable. Justice Hill led the backfield in snaps, but it was Keaton Mitchell who finished with 138 yards and a touchdown. Edwards is probably an RB2 most weeks with a ceiling because of his touchdown equity. Hill is the clear third-down back, but he also got 13 carries. However, he won’t see many looks inside the 10-yard line, which caps any type of upside he might have. Mitchell is the interesting name here and he should be added in all formats this week. If Edwards would miss time, Mitchell could pop later in the season.
Dallas Cowboys
- Starter: Tony Pollard
- Handcuff: Rico Dowdle
Tony Pollard’s snap share (76%) is elite, but he now hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1. Dallas is using him much differently than last season, which has meant more between-the-tackles work and fewer designed touches in space. If you have him, you keep rolling him out each week, but the preseason expectations of Pollard being a candidate for the overall RB1 are long gone. He does get the Giants this week, and they have been gashed by running backs the last few weeks. If Pollard will pop for a big game, this is the week.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Starter: D’Andre Swift
- Handcuff: Kenneth Gainwell, Rashaad Penny
I am not one to spread panic, but it might be time to worry a bit if you have D’Andre Swift. While he still commanded 20 touches and 63% of the snaps, he didn’t do much with them, only totaling 64 scoreless yards. He also fumbled twice (the Eagles recovered both), and with Rashaad Penny being active for the first time, Swift could find himself losing touches coming out of the bye. Philadelphia’s run game is only averaging 129 yards per game this season, down from over 147 yards in 2022. With Jalen Hurts looking hobbled by his knee and Dallas Goedert looking likely to head to IR, the Eagles will need more from this backfield. Swift may be running out of time to prove he can be the alpha here.
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Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.
