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Protect your dynasty fantasy football roster with these five must-stash handcuff running backs who could become league winners: Blake Corum, Ray Davis and more.
The dynasty offseason is in full swing. Here at RotoBaller, we’ve got you covered with all kinds of dynasty content including our pre-NFL Draft rookie rankings.
One important aspect of dynasty football, which often goes overlooked, is stashing bench players with upside. Usually, these players are nothing more than lottery tickets. However, if you can identify the correct players to target, you might end up finding a few gems. Running back is notoriously the most fragile position in football. That means it’s never a bad idea to stash a few handcuffs in hopes they become something more.
Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are five handcuff running backs to stash in your dynasty football league.
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Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
White had a tough 2024 season. He only ran for 613 rushing yards and was outright replaced as Tampa Bay’s RB1 by rookie sensation Bucky Irving.
Bucky Irving too quick for six!
📺: #TBvsDAL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/SKUyN02Uhs— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2024
While that was disappointing for White’s dynasty owners, he did remain the RB2 behind Irving and still registered 50 receptions. This marked the third straight year that White has caught at least 50 passes in a season. So even though he no longer functions as the team’s RB1, he does offer some standalone value as a pass-catching back.
We also know Todd Bowles and the coaching staff were okay with giving White a large workload in 2023. If Irving misses time, then White is seemingly in line to resume bell-cow duties in the Buccaneers offense.
There’s a chance Tampa Bay adds another back in this year’s draft, and that player could push White for the team’s RB2 job. For now, though, the RB2 role still belongs to White. He offers some standalone value and is a good player to roster in case something happens to Irving.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Corum’s rookie season was not what his dynasty supporters (myself included) were hoping to see. He was clearly behind Kyren Williams in the pecking order and was forced to beat out Ronnie Rivers for the team’s RB2 role. He did eventually supplant Rivers as the RB2 and began receiving more work by season’s end. A broken forearm would prematurely end his season, and he missed the playoffs as a result.
The Rams have stated that they still value Corum highly, but the fact of the matter is that this is Williams' backfield. Corum doesn’t bring any standalone value to the table but would be in line for a full starter's workload if Williams ever misses time. That’s Corum's main appeal right now. He’s a talented player, but he’s just stuck in a bad situation.
Some gamers may have soured on the former Michigan Wolverine following a disappointing rookie season. This makes him an ideal trade target if you’re looking to stash backup running backs with upside. If Williams were to miss time, you could then either ride the hot hand with Corum or turn around and flip him for a profit.
Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
Davis was a popular sleeper pick in dynasty circles entering the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he did not get the best landing spot as he’s stuck firmly behind James Cook on the Bills' depth chart.
However, he did see some action throughout the year and played well in a Week 6 spot start when Cook was sidelined due to injury. Davis ran for 97 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 55 yards as well. He flashed potential throughout the year and proved he could be a viable starter for fantasy gamers.
WHAT A RUN FOR RAY DAVIS 🔥
63 yards for the Buffalo lead 😮💨
(via @nfl)pic.twitter.com/xA274A6Djm
— ESPN (@espn) November 3, 2024
Davis is one of the best handcuffs to own and would be a borderline RB1 should Cook ever miss time. He’s a great target late in startup drafts and is a good throw-in piece as part of a larger trade.
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Charbonnet stepped up in a big way last year while starter Kenneth Walker III missed time with injuries. The sophomore back ran for a career-high 569 yards and scored eight rushing touchdowns. The highlight of his season was an incredible Week 14 performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Charbonnet posted a 22-134-2 line and caught seven passes for 59 yards.
ZACH CHARBONNET 51-YARD TD!
📺: #SEAvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/P492n4pkXU— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024
Seattle has reaffirmed their commitment to Walker as the team’s starting back this offseason. However, Charbonnet proved he could be more than a replacement level back if called into action. He’s a priority handcuff as he would be in line for a massive workload if Walker misses extended time.
Charbonnet could also eventually be traded to another team or land a job as a starter when his contract expires after the 2026 season. There is some sneaky long-term value in rostering him. He is currently one of the top running back handcuffs in fantasy football and is an ideal trade candidate for dynasty gamers looking for running back flyers.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Many dynasty gamers forget that Allgeier has a 1,000-yard rushing season on his resume. He has since been supplanted as Atlanta’s RB1 by Bijan Robinson. So while Allgeier is currently buried on the depth chart, it’s important to remember that he is still a talented player.
Tyler Allgeier carries it across the goal line!
📺: #DALvsATL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/EzXmFMCKcj— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
His advanced metrics were also quite good in 2024. Among 46 backs with 100+ carries, Allgeier finished 14th in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt (RYOE/ATT) and was PFF’s 10th highest graded rusher. Should Robinson ever go down, Allgeier can slide right into the RB1 role. He’s not quite as talented as Robinson, but he’s not that far off either and could be a real force with a starter's workload.
Allgeier could also become a starter for another team after his contract expires following the 2025 season. So like Charbonnet, there is long-term appeal here as well. Allgeier is arguably the top handcuff in the league right now and should be a priority pick/trade target for Bijan Robinson managers who want to cover themselves in case Atlanta’s RB1 suffers a major injury.
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