Fantasy Football Week 17 Running Back Handcuff Report: Tyjae Spears, More
Welcome to the Week 17 Fantasy Football Running Back Handcuff Report! It’s championship week in many season-long leagues and we could see some RB handcuffs play a large role in the most important week in fantasy football.
There’s a lot on the line so pay attention to every piece of news you can get a hold of and watch the NFL injury reports very closely as they are updated.
Fantasy Football NFL Week 17 Running Back Handcuff Report
Fresh off of a Week 16 performance that saw him rush for two TDs, Los Angeles Chargers RB Gus Edwards has been ruled out for Week 17 due to an ankle injury. As this article is being written J.K. Dobbins, who’s been on short term IR recovering from a knee injury, has a chance to play in Week 17.
However, if Dobbins remains inactive, Edwards’ recent RB handcuff, Kimani Vidal, would likely play the bulk of snaps at the RB position for the Chargers. If that is the case, Hassan Haskins will be Vidal’s RB handcuff.
It sounds like there’s a chance that New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson could be benched in favor of his RB handcuff, Antonio Gibson due to his recent fumbling issues.
Ironically, Gibson has had similar issues of his own in the past. He has 14 fumbles in his five-year career. JaMycal Hasty would likely be Gibson’s RB handcuff if Stevenson is in fact benched in Week 17.
There are additional NFL backfields that appear to be in flux as Week 17 approaches.
How To Find The Best RB Handcuffs
Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard is dealing with an ankle injury, and his Week 17 availability is in question. He managed to play 39% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 16 but he opened Week 17’s practice window as a non-participant.
Should he be inactive in Week 17 Tyjae Spears, Pollard’s RB handcuff, would play the majority of offensive snaps out of the Titans’ backfield. Spears played 61% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 16 and has scored three TDs in his last two games. If Pollard is ultimately inactive in Week 17, Julius Chestnut would likely be Spears’ RB handcuff.
The Arizona Cardinals are dealing with injuries to their top two RBs and their Week 17 availability is in question. James Conner suffered a knee injury in Week 16 and had to be removed from his matchup against the Carolina Panthers. He’s been limited in practice this week. His usual RB handcuff, Trey Benson, was inactive in Week 16 due to an ankle injury.
Emari Demercado is already on the IR, so if Conner and Benson are inactive in Week 17, Michael Carter, who was recently promoted from the Cardinals’ practice squad, could play a significant number of snaps against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.
The San Francisco 49ers are hoping that Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) will be healthy enough to be active for their Monday matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Taylor filled in for Guerendo in Week 16 and would be Guerendo’s RB handcuff if he is active in Week 17. Whoever plays the majority of snaps on Monday is going to have a tough time against the stout Lions run defense.
Alvin Kamara, who was inactive in Week 16 due to a groin injury, is trying to convince Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi to let him play in Week 17.
Watch Kamara’s progress closely this week. If he’s inactive, Kendre Miller would likely play the majority of snaps out of the Saints backfield in Week 17.
It’s a tough time of year for fantasy football RBs as the long and grueling NFL season is taking its toll on some of its biggest stars.
Kenneth Walker was placed on IR this week leaving a very capable Zach Charbonnet as the Seattle Seahawks’ lead back. Kenny McIntosh is the best bet to be Charbonnet’s RB handcuff for the rest of the season.
Player News
Ryan Ramczyk retired after eight seasons in the NFL.
Ramczyk served as a stalwart member of the Saints’ offensive line from 2017-2023, battling through deteriorating cartilage in his knee. He was sidelined by the issue for the full 2024 season. Ramczyk’s NFL accolades include a spot on the 2017 PFWA All-Rookie Team, two second-team All-Pro nods (2018 and 2020) and one first-team All-Pro (2019) spot.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery is a player that “teams like a lot more than the media knows.”
Rapoport suggests that Ersery could make his way into the late first round, connecting him with the tackle-needy Chiefs. Ersery performed more consistently as a run-blocker than as a blindside pass protector over the last two seasons, but notably allowed just a 3.0 percent quarterback pressure rate last year, the 10th-lowest among Power Five left tackles with at least 400 pass-protection snaps.
Beat reporter Scott Bair reports that Bears DC Dennis Allen asked slot CB Kyler Gordon to learn a second position, either on the perimeter or at safety.
The Bears’ previous coaching staff spent two seasons trying this experiment before allowing Gordon to blossom in a full-time slot- and box-coverage role last season. Perhaps, Allen can succeed where others have failed. His intent is to “find some more playing time” for Gordon, which is understandable given Gordon’s significant on-field impact last year.
Bills signed CB Tre’Davious White, formerly of the Ravens, to a one-year, $6.8 million contract.
White, now 30 years old, returns to the team that drafted him in the 2017 NFL Draft’s first round. White was a force to be reckoned with early in his career, but a 2021 ACL tear and a 2023 Achilles tendon rupture have reduced his play quality. White will now compete for the Bills’ No. 2 perimeter role.
Bills waived TE Armani Rogers.
This is unfortunate. Rogers recently ruptured his Achilles tendon for the second time in three years. He showed promise as a 2022 rookie, earning a 65.3 PFF receiving grade and a 68.0 PFF run-blocking grade, but the injuries are taking their toll. The Bills also released DT Branson Deen.
Titans waived OT Nicholas Petit-Frere.
The team signed C Sam Mustipher and OT Oli Udoh in corresponding moves. Petit-Frere failed to meet expectations after the Titans spent a third-round pick on him in 2022, allowing 35-plus quarterback pressures in 2-of-3 NFL seasons.