Subscribe to push notifications in our NFL Fantasy News section.
Running back is the most important position in fantasy football. Getting high-end production from the position is key to unlocking a fantasy championship.
However, injuries to running backs are inevitable. Without a solid backup plan, losing your star rusher could sink your season. You can get ahead of the issue by drafting handcuff RBs - not just to protect your assets, but also to potentially build a super backfield if another manager's roster gets bitten by the injury bug.
Here are 10 backup running backs worth targeting later in drafts to give you a leg up on your competition.
Standalone value
Blake Corum
The Rams started splitting the workload between Corum and Kyren Williams late last year. Corum proved he's one of the league's most efficient runners, finishing first in EPA/rush among backs with at least 100 carries, according to SumerSports.
Los Angeles projects to have one of the league's best defenses and a high-powered offense that will likely be killing a lot of clock late in games. Corum will have standalone value as a flex option most weeks and would be a top-10 running back if anything happens to Williams.
Jonathon Brooks
Brooks is currently listed as Chuba Hubbard's backup, but that could change now that Hubbard is dealing with a hamstring injury. Although Brooks has a legitimate shot at earning the starting role by Week 1, Hubbard is being selected 44 picks ahead of him, according to FantasyPros' average draft position.
Hubbard was the league's least explosive running back last year, per SumerSports, and the Panthers' otherwise uninspiring offense could use a jolt. Brooks, who was taken in the second round of the 2024 draft, could be the answer, but he hasn't been able to prove it - two ACL injuries derailed the start of his career.
Brooks is far from a sure thing, but he was productive in college and was the first running back taken in his draft. Plus, let's face it: Hubbard isn't winning anyone a fantasy championship.
Rachaad White
Rachaad White and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are battling for touches in the Commanders' backfield and will likely end up splitting carries. However, White's path to fantasy production is far clearer.
White, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason to team up with his former college quarterback, is expected to earn all of the passing-down work. He's a viable pass-catcher, and he's far better in pass protection. That's vital given Jayden Daniels' injury history and the loss of All-Pro left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
The Commanders may find themselves in high-scoring games and are likely to be trailing more often than not, which will keep White on the field and allow him to easily outscore his teammate. And if anything happens to Croskey-Merritt, White's fantasy value will skyrocket.
Keaton Mitchell
Mike McDaniel brought in Keaton Mitchell when he took over as Chargers offensive coordinator because he's obsessed with speed. Mitchell showed flashes in limited work in Baltimore, but he struggled to stay on the field to provide the Ravens with a dynamic one-two punch alongside Derrick Henry. The expectation in Los Angeles is that McDaniel will figure out unique ways to get his speedy back involved.
Omarion Hampton will be the Chargers' starter, but Mitchell should be able to produce even with Hampton on the field. This could be one of the most explosive offenses in the league, and Mitchell (ADP - 156th) is an extremely cheap way to get in on the action.
Locked-in backups
Brian Robinson Jr.
If you are taking Bijan Robinson with the first or second pick and not taking Brian Robinson Jr. in the 10th round, you're making a huge mistake, even if Brian spends the entire season on your bench.
Protecting your first-round asset in this scenario is crucial, especially when Brian is the clear replacement for Bijan. Yes, production from the position will decrease if Bijan misses time, but Brian will be a weekly top-20 running back if he gets starts.
Isiah Pacheco
Similar to the Falcons' situation, Pacheco is the clear handcuff to Jahmyr Gibbs. If you're lucky enough to draft Gibbs, a 13th-round pick is a tiny price to pay for injury insurance. Pacheco isn't close to the same player that Gibbs is, but locking up the Lions' backfield for the entire season will put your mind at ease.
Tank Bigsby
Saquon Barkley is the bell cow in Philadelphia. But if he misses any time, Bigsby is expected to take on a big role in the offense. The Eagles gave up two draft picks for Bigsby last season, clearly seeing value in the now third-year back. With an ADP of 164, he's basically free in drafts, making him a must-pick if you have Barkley and bench space.
Deep fliers
Sean Tucker
If you're in a deeper league and struggling to fill roster spots in the later rounds, taking running backs is never a bad approach. Tucker is going 182nd overall, which is undrafted in most leagues. However, his Buccaneers teammate Bucky Irving is tough to trust after last year's disastrous season, and although the team signed Kenneth Gainwell in free agency, he's exclusively a pass-catching option.
Tucker has been the No. 1 scorer at running back twice in the past two years. No RB being drafted in his range can say the same. Tucker has some juice and a nose for the end zone, but he's never gotten the opportunity to lead a backfield.
Perhaps Irving's shoulder and foot injuries are behind him and he can return to the player he was in his rookie year. But if that doesn't happen, it's worth taking a low-risk gamble on Tucker.
Seth McGowan
DJ Giddens was expected to be Jonathan Taylor's clear backup this season, but he's been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, rookie McGowan has impressed in practice and has taken over as the Colts' top backup option, according to The Athletic's James Boyd.
McGowan is being picked as the 96th running back off the board, which is undrafted in most leagues or in the last round in deeper formats. But if you spent a first-round pick on Taylor, protecting him with McGowan is a must.
Kimani Vidal
Vidal did an admirable job of leading the Chargers' rushing offense while Hampton missed time last season. Even after the Mitchell signing, McDaniel recently suggested all three running backs will see action in a crowded backfield.
Vidal's path to playing time is more complicated than it was last year, but he's earned the coaching staff's trust. He could benefit in the event of an injury to either Hampton or Mitchell, neither of whom has been able to stay healthy for a full season. Vidal's low cost and high upside make him a worthwhile flier in deeper drafts.
Subscribe to push notifications in our NFL Fantasy News section.
