If you follow the NFL, you know how demanding and volatile the running back position can be. How volatile can the running back position be? Well, the Kansas City Chiefs’ RB depth chart was revamped just this week.

We added Samaje Perine and Carson Steele to the Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Handcuff grid, and they could become potential major contributors to the team’s run game should primary back Isiah Pacheco be unavailable at some point this season.

 

 

 

2024 Fantasy Football NFL Week 1 Running Back Handcuff Report

With the limited number of legitimate bell cow running backs in the NFL and the high injury risk inherent in the position reading our Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Handcuff report can be crucial to your success in your fantasy football leagues. 

The fantasy football running back position is similar to the fantasy ball closer position in that there’s a good chance that the running back you drafted with confidence in the preseason might not be his team’s primary back by season’s end. Reading this 2024 Week 1 RB Handcuff Report, not just now, but every week, and regularly checking out our RB grid will give you a leg up on your competition and might even help you find this season’s Kyren Williams.

 

 

 

How To Find The Best RB Handcuffs?

It seems obvious but like everything else in life, you need to protect your investments. When it comes to figuring out if you should roster your primary running back’s handcuff just look at the draft capital you spent on that primary back. If your preseason draft strategy involved drafting running backs in the first few rounds of your draft, then they’ll likely be crucial to the long-term success of your fantasy football team. 

Another thing to look for in determining if you need to handcuff your primary fantasy football running back is if they have a good shot at retaining their role. A major factor in a running back’s ability to hold on to their lead back role is their pass protection skill. As per Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) RB position grades, Buffalo Bills RB James Cook is the third worst pass protector. I love Cook as a Week 1 DFS option. 

However, his handcuff Ray Davis is a better pass protector than Cook and Davis not only has three down potential but he can catch passes out of the backfield. With the Bills relying on the run a bit more at the end of last season and likely to do so this season as well, fantasy managers rostering Cook should make Davis a 2024 Week 1 RB Handcuff priority.

Denver Broncos RB Javonte Williams seems to have been given a lifeline this preseason when he apparently revamped his offseason diet and lost 11 pounds, a factor that seemed to impress head coach Sean Payton. I think he could have a big Week 1 in DFS lineups but with the sixth worst pass blocking grade per PFF and Jaleel McLaughlin’s impressive preseason, Williams might not be the Broncos’ primary back for very long.

As we’ll see later in this article a team’s offensive strategy and how much they incorporate their run game as part of their overall offense should also influence whether you handcuff the primary running backs on your roster. For instance, the Los Angeles Chargers are expected to run the ball a lot under new head coach Jim Harbaugh this season. The Chargers’ RB room seems pretty fluid to start the season but if you roster Gus Edwards, then J.K. Dobbins would be a top 2024 Week 1 RB Handcuff priority and vice versa.

 

 

 

Top 5 RB Handcuffs For 2024 Ahead Of NFL Week 1

Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers

With Christian McCaffrey dealing with a calf injury this preseason and Elijah Mitchell’s season over before it started, Mason would be the 49ers’ primary running back should McCaffrey miss time this season. 

The 49ers had the sixth highest average rushing attempts per game last season. That rate might drop a bit if McCaffrey is out for a while, but the 49ers are still a team that likes to run the ball, making Mason a Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Handcuff waiver wire priority if he’s available.

Kenneth Gainwell/Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley is almost certainly going to do great things in Philadelphia this season. He’ll be playing behind a much better offensive line than he had with the New York Giants, and he has a better supporting cast around him, but he has been a bit injury prone in his career and he’s a 27-year-old running back that you spent a lot of draft capital on. 

Gainwell is likely his direct handcuff, but Shipley has been turning some heads this preseason. If you roster Barkley and want to handcuff him and missed out on Gainwell, Shipley should still be on the waiver wire.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons had the third highest average rush attempts per game last season (30.7) and with the dynamic duo of Bijan Robinson and Allgeier in their backfield why wouldn’t they? Allgeier rushed for 1035 yards as a rookie when he was the Falcons’ primary back during the 2022 season. 

He managed to rush for 683 yards, and he caught 18 passes as Robinson’s handcuff last season. Even if you don’t roster Robinson, if Allgeier is on your league’s waiver wire he should be a Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Handcuff priority.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

Many fantasy football managers were upset that Corum was drafted by the Rams and relegated to backup duty as Kyren Williams’ handcuff. Well, with head coach Sean McVay’s history of frequently revamping his running back depth charts and with the mysterious foot injury that Williams was dealing with this preseason Corum might not be a backup for very long. 

Corum has 56 rushing touchdowns in his last three college seasons and has a good chance of becoming the Rams’ primary back before the end of the season. He’s high on our list in our 2024 Week 1 RB Handcuff Report.

Braelon Allen, New York Jets

With Breece Hall expected to be an integral part of the Jets’ offense this season Allen becomes a must add Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Handcuff priority if he’s available. Allen impressed in all facets of his game this preseason including pass catching and pass protection skills. 

Hall is clearly a bell cow back but if the Jets want to lighten his load a bit this season Allen has shown that he’s a plug and play 2024 Week 1 RB Handcuff running back who can be used in short yardage, goal to go, and passing down situations.