10 best running back handcuffs in 2024

5. Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens

In his four-year career, Hill has been the NFL version of "always the bridesmaid, never the bride." Despite his consistent efficiency and impressive performances when given the spotlight, he has yet to become a long-term starter. Baltimore's backfield will feature a different look in 2024 with Derrick Henry leading the charge but unlike previous years, the team does not have much depth behind Hill.

Behind Henry and Hill, the options for Baltimore are slim. Second-year Keaton Mitchell impressed in 2023 until he suffered a season-ending injury and is still on the PUP list with an indefinite return date. Rookie Rasheen Ali is the only other player on the active roster. In Henry's absence, the backfield should be Hill's, who received double-digit carries every time he played more than 50 percent of the snaps in 2023.

4. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

Everything could change under new head coach Mike Macdonald but from Week 8 to Week 18, Charbonnet found himself nearly splitting the snaps evenly with Kenneth Walker III. Even if Charbonnet's role decreases in the new offense, that would not change the fact that he would become Seattle's clear RB1 whenever Walker misses time.

During the two weeks that Walker sat in 2023, Charbonnet played nearly 90 percent of the offensive snaps and took 33 total carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. Aside from the snap count, his numbers may not jump off the page but it is worth noting that those two games were against two of the best defenses in Dallas and San Francisco. Regardless, when Walker was sidelined, he turned into a three-down workhorse back and whenever that happens again he needs to be added everywhere.

3. Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings

Towards the end of 2023, Chandler began to push Alexander Mattison for his starting role but could never firmly take control. However, in the last eight weeks of the season, Chandler saw double-digit carries six times after just eight total in the first nine games. Mattison is no longer in Minnesota but Chandler remains the team's RB2, now behind veteran Aaron Jones.

Although it is still early, ESPN has reported that Minnesota is viewing Chandler as a "1B" to Jones as the "1A." In the one game he received a full starting workload in 2023, Chandler took 23 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati. It has been an incredibly small sample size but every time Chandler has been given the opportunity thus far, he has delivered. Should Jones go down at any point, Chandler could be the breakout star of the year.

2. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Raheem Morris is fully expected to unlock the true potential of Bijan Robinson, forcing Allgeier into likely the smallest role of his career. Robinson touted his new role as Christian McCaffrey-esque, which would likely relegate Allgeier to being a pure backup.

However, in the event Robinson misses time, Allgeier is just two years removed from putting up 1,000 yards as a rookie. His efficiency and usage decreased in 2023, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, and he has just seven career rushing touchdowns. But before Robinson was on the team, Allgeier led Atlanta in rushing yards in 2022 despite splitting time with Cordarrelle Patterson and playing just 51 percent of the offensive snaps. If Robinson is off the field, the Falcons have no depth behind Allgeier, likely leading to him taking over as the workhorse.

1. Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers

The best fantasy handcuffs are often behind the top players of the position and Mitchell figures to be the one who has the most to gain behind 2023 RB1 Christian McCaffrey. While McCaffrey has not missed much time since being traded to San Francisco in 2022, he played in just 10 total games in his previous two seasons with Carolina and begins the 2024 season at 28 years old.

After rumors surfaced earlier in the summer that Mitchell's roster spot was in danger due to his constant injury woes, the 26-year-old is still listed as the RB2 entering the team's final preseason game. His constant injuries are a concern, as are the cut rumors, but just two years ago Mitchell was San Francisco's starting running back and put up 963 yards in 11 games. The talk of Jordan Mason potentially stepping over him in the depth chart died down in Week 18 of the 2023 season when Mitchell fielded 14 carries to just six for Mason.