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Running Back Handcuff Rankings: Week 5 (2024 Fantasy Football)

There aren’t a lot of changes to the top of the handcuff RB fantasy football rankings this week other than Zach Charbonnet making his return. He lands at the top spot but is also probably 95% rostered, so there isn’t much to mention there. We do have one injury to monitor with Jonathan Taylor and his high-ankle sprain. If he misses time, Trey Sermon would be the likely beneficiary.

There are some other scenarios worth monitoring, however:

  • With Carson Steele‘s fumble, Kareem Hunt might have become the No. 1 RB in Kansas City. Hunt finished with a team-high 17 touches and it looks like he has taken control of the Chiefs’ backfield.
  • The practice window for Nick Chubb opened up this week. If he is on your waiver wire, he shouldn’t be. The Browns could use a spark offensively and Chubb has been their foundational piece.
  • As good as Chuba Hubbard has been, Jonathon Brooks is eligible to return this week. Brooks looked good in the preseason but Hubbard’s hot start means Carolina doesn’t need to force the issue until Brooks is fully ready. Like Chubb, Brooks can be picked up if available

Let’s dive into this week’s handcuff rankings.

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Handcuff Rankings

1. Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)

Zach Charbonnet was back in a reserve role with Kenneth Walker‘s return on Monday night. Charbonnet is still the top handcuff in football. With Walker’s injury history, there will be more opportunities to lead the backfield this year.

2. Bucky Irving (RB – TB)

Bucky Irving saw a season-high 42% snap share this week while Rachaad White played on a season-low 58% of the snaps. You can maybe chalk that up to the Buccaneers dominating the game but it is clear they want Irving more involved. He also saw all five rushing attempts in the red zone, scoring a touchdown in the process. As I’ve been saying for weeks, if Irving is on your waiver wire, he shouldn’t be.

3. Braelon Allen (RB – NYJ)

Braelon Allen continues to see more playing time. For the first time all year, Breece Hall played on fewer than 70% of the snaps Sunday. Allen also saw nine touches to Hall’s 12, outrushing him 34-4 (yes, Hall rushed for just four yards Sunday). I cannot stress enough that Allen should be 100% rostered across all leagues.

4. Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL)

Maybe it wasn’t Arthur Smith who was the problem in Atlanta. Either that or Tyler Allgeier is legitimately good. Allgeier continues to see fairly significant usage, getting 10 touches Sunday to Bijan Robinson‘s 11. He also outgained Robinson in total yards and Allgeier’s snap share climbed to a season-high 38%. If Robinson misses time later in the season, Allgeier is a potential league-winner because I think this is a situation where he is legitimately good.

5. Chase Brown (RB – CIN)

One week is a small sample size but Chase Brown’s usage and production from Week 4 are strong data points in his favor. He saw season highs in snap rate (40) and touches (17) while gaining 92 total yards and scoring two touchdowns. This is the second game in a row where Brown led the Bengals in yards and while Zack Moss isn’t necessarily playing poorly, Brown gives them a difference-maker in the backfield.

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6. Tank Bigsby (RB – JAX)

There was a lot of good out of Tank Bigsby on Sunday. Travis Etienne banged his shoulder early in the game and missed some snaps. Bigsby filled in nicely, rushing for 90 yards on seven carries, including a 58-yard run towards the end of the third quarter that put Jacksonville at the 4-yard line. However, he curiously did not receive a touch for the rest of the game. Changes are coming for the 0-4 Jaguars and Bigsby should see an increase in touches and snaps.

7. Trey Sermon (RB – IND)

Last week I wrote, “This might be a bit of a shock to see [Trey] Sermon here but Jonathan Taylor is getting an 80% snap share and his touch share is over 90%. If he were to miss time, Sermon would be the big beneficiary and probably step into a 12-15 touch role.” It looks like Taylor has a high-ankle sprain, meaning Trey Sermon might be thrust into that exact role. Watch the injury reports later today. If Taylor is out, Sermon can be added everywhere.

8. Alexander Mattison (RB – LV)

Zamir White had his best game statistically of the year Sunday but still only averaged 2.9 yards per carry (YPC). It might only be a matter of time before Mattison takes over in Las Vegas, but there are major questions about that offense on the whole, which is what keeps him from ranking higher. Mattison looks really good at times and we are getting to the point where teams will make changes. With the Raiders sitting at 2-2 in what is looking like a tougher division than we thought, that time may not be far off for Mattison.

9. Emanuel Wilson (RB – GB)

Emmanuel Wilson has turned MarShawn Lloyd into an afterthought. Wilson was the only other Green Bay running back to get a touch Sunday. He is no threat to replace Josh Jacobs outside of an injury but, like Trey Sermon last week, he would be the primary beneficiary of an injury. I don’t know that he would get 15+ touches (I think he would settle closer to 12-15) but in this offense, he is worth consideration.

10A. Samaje Perine (RB – KC)

Carson Steele fumbled early in the game and only saw three touches. Samaje Perine is now squarely on the radar as a handcuff option as Steele’s fumble opened the door to a couple of tributaries. First, this pushed Kareem Hunt into the de facto feature role and he got 16 touches on a 45% snap share. Second, Perine is the veteran and probably fits what the Chiefs will need to do to win more than Steele does because of his pass-catching prowess. Hunt should be 100% rostered but in PPR leagues and I think Perine warrants consideration.

10B. Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT)

Jaylen Warren missed Sunday’s game but Najee Harris was painfully tough to watch in a cherry matchup against the Colts. Like a few others on this list, I don’t think Warren would be in a 15+ touch role if Harris were to get hurt (Cordarrelle Patterson would be involved some), but Warren can be plenty useful, even on 12-15 touches.

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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.

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