Fantasy football has watered down the term “handcuff.” I’m not talking about drafting another back simply because he gets touches. Isaiah Pacheco can have schemed usage. Kyle Monangai can have a Chicago role. Instead, give me the guy who becomes the primary runner when the bell cow disappears. These are those guys. The ones I’m smashing in every single draft.
MORE:2026 Fantasy Football wide receiver rankings, 75 players ranked first to worst 1. Seth McGowan – Colts Aug 29, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan (20) during warmups before the game against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images Jonathan Taylor is the Indianapolis running game. That’s precisely why McGowan interests me. The seventh-round rookie has increasingly separated himself in the competition behind Taylor, with most reporting pointing toward McGowan establishing himself as Indianapolis’ RB2. If Taylor misses time, I don’t expect Indianapolis to suddenly reinvent its offense. I expect somebody else to get a pile of carries. McGowan is the cheap bet on being that somebody. MORE:NFL predictions: Previewing all 16 AFC teams & predicting every record in 2026 2. Jonathon Brooks – Panthers Aug 28, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (25) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Chuba Hubbard remains Carolina’s listed starter, with Brooks directly behind him. That’s what makes Brooks a legitimate handcuff rather than simply another committee back. There is additional upside here because Hubbard entered Week 1 preparations dealing with a hamstring issue, while Brooks is finally healthy after losing nearly two seasons to knee injuries. And Carolina invested a second-round pick in Brooks for a reason. If Hubbard goes down – or Brooks simply proves he’s better – there’s a path to legitimate feature-back volume. I’m drafting that. MORE:Previewing all 16 NFC teams & predicting every record in 2026 3. Mike Washington Jr. – Raiders Aug 27, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. (30) carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images This is my favorite deep handcuff. Ashton Jeanty is the bell cow. Washington doesn’t need weekly standalone volume for this pick to work. I care about what happens if Jeanty isn’t available. Washington ran for 168 yards on 23 preseason carries – 7.3 yards per attempt – while showing both explosiveness and the size to handle work between the tackles. PFF even has him as the highest-graded RB of the preseason – the entire preseason. And watch the physicality. Tanner Phifer described Washington as “such a stud dude”: That’s what I’m talking about. Don’t waste a late fantasy pick pretending every RB2 is a handcuff. A true handcuff is insurance with a lottery-ticket payoff – one injury away from inheriting the carries that actually matter. And winning your league for you. McGowan, Brooks, and Washington fit that definition better than almost anyone being drafted around them. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —