Ranking NFL's Most Valuable 2025 Backup RBs for Fantasy Football Managers to Handcuff

The 2025 fantasy football season is fast approaching. With NFL training camps set to open in a few weeks, managers should pay close attention for news and information that can help give them an edge during the upcoming campaign.

One of more important tasks a successful fantasy manager can accomplish during this stage of the offseason is sorting out backfield pecking orders and identifying the best possible handcuffs to target in the latter rounds of a fantasy draft.

Discounting projected timeshares in which the top two backs are expected to produce relatively equally and/or have average draft positions (ADP) earlier than the 10th round—such as the Los Angeles Chargers’ Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris or the Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery—here’s a look at the most valuable handcuffs in fantasy football.

These rankings were crafted based on factors such as average draft position, projected playing time, ability to contribute regardless of role and upside.

Fantasy points, ADP, rankings and other data courtesy of FantasyPros using PPR metrics.

No. 6: DJ Giddens, Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts’ backfield has been dominated by Jonathan Taylor for the past half-decade, but there’s a chance that rookie fifth-round pick DJ Giddens could find himself in the mix as early as the 2025 season.

Taylor is coming off a 1,431-yard, 11-touchdown campaign in which he returned to Pro Bowl form, but he hasn’t been healthy for a full season since he won the 2021 rushing crown.

With Taylor missing a total of 13 games between the 2022-23 seasons, the door could soon be opened for the rookie backup to step into a much larger role.

Giddens may not have been the most prized back of the 2025 draft, but the fifth-rounder profiles as productive lead back given the opportunity. At 6'0" and 212 pounds, the Kansas State product possesses adequate size and showcased plenty of patience, vision and elusiveness during his time with the Wildcats.

While Giddens has little value behind a healthy Taylor—especially after he soaked up a career-high 80 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps in 2024—his clear-cut status as next in line to lead Indy’s backfield makes him well worth drafting in fantasy, especially since he’s currently coming off the board as a flier in the final rounds.  

No. 5: Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo

The Los Angeles Rams have produced some of fantasy’s highest-scoring running backs since head coach Sean McVay took the reins, but backups in this offense have had little value over that span. While it may seem unlikely that Blake Corum will flip the script, there is a real chance that the second-year pro emerges as a viable fantasy option in 2025.  

Corum started his NFL career buried on the Los Angeles Rams’ depth chart behind lead back Kyren Williams last year. He scored only 33.5 fantasy points as a rookie.

While Williams is poised to remain McVay’s go-to weapon, it’s worth noting that he also spent much of his rookie season on the pine. Williams generated only 30.5 fantasy points across 10 games in 2022, which is a far cry from the hefty 527.1 points he’s put up over the last two years.

Although Williams pushed Darrell Henderson Jr. and Cam Akers completely aside to steal the spotlight, Corum may instead forge a partnership with his running mate.

McVay has praised Corum heavily this offseason, including earlier in the month when he said the young rusher “really stood out” at OTAs. He indicated that Corum will have more opportunities on the field in 2025.

The head coach also said back in January that he wants to emphasize “versatility” in his offense. He specifically cited how then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen maximized the talents of his backfield last year with both Bucky Irving and Rachaad White playing sizable roles.

There may not be anything concrete to go off yet, but making a speculative late-round pick on Corum (who has an 18th-round ADP and isn’t even being drafted in many leagues) could pay dividends for managers who believe McVay will change up his backfield process in 2025.

No. 4: Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo

Trey Benson may not have had the rookie year some fantasy managers were hoping for when he came off the board as the RB36, but the up-and-coming Arizona Cardinals back is poised for a far better 2025 campaign.

Benson remains behind aging starter James Conner in the pecking order, which isn’t likely to change at the onset of the upcoming campaign. Conner is fresh off putting up a career-high 1,094 yards—his second consecutive 1,000-yard effort—while playing 60 percent of the Cardinals' offensive snaps. However, it remains to be seen how long his body can hold up after he stayed in the lineup for a personal-best 16 games last year.

With Conner going into his age-30 campaign and having missed multiple games in all but one of his eight NFL seasons, Benson will likely get at least a handful of contests to work as Arizona’s RB1.

Even if Conner stays healthy in 2025, the veteran could start to cede playing time to his understudy. Benson had some strong outings last season—including back-to-back top-25 finishes in Weeks 9-10—and should only improve as Arizona’s coaching staff further integrates the third-round sophomore into the offense.

Benson is being drafted later than he was last year—he’s currently a 12th-rounder in most leagues—which makes him a good value in that range. With a strong training camp performance, Benson could become more than a handcuff and put up flex-worthy numbers on a weekly basis.

No. 3: Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo

The Miami Dolphins’ backfield is in a state of transition. While De’Von Achane remains entrenched as the starter, the backup duties should end up falling to Jaylen Wright following Raheem Mostert’s departure.

While Achane is one of the most dynamic weapons in the NFL, health has been a consistent thorn in his side. Although he managed to stay on the field for all of 2024—unlike his rookie season, when he missed six games—Achane was clearly banged up. His rushing production dropped from 7.8 yards per attempt in 2023 to a more pedestrian 4.5 yards last year, and he scored only six touchdowns on the ground in 2024, two fewer than he did as a rookie.

If Achane goes down with an injury, Wright has all of the tools to step seamlessly into the starting job.

Wright was one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2024 draft class. He displayed blistering speed and incredible athleticism during his tenure at Tennessee. Although that explosiveness didn’t translate to instant production in the NFL—Wright mustered only 26.7 PPR points as a rookie—there should be far more opportunity for him to shine in 2025.

Head coach Mike McDaniel has already said that expectations are high for both backs this season, and it wouldn’t be unprecedented for a running back pairing to thrive in his system. Mostert and Achane combined for a solid 458.4 points in 2023 even though they missed eight games in total.

A considerable amount of Achane’s 299.9 fantasy points last season came in the passing game, as he reeled in 78 receptions for 592 yards and six scores on the year. Wright possesses the hands to take on that type of volume should he be called upon, which gives him an immense amount of PPR handcuff value.

With the potential to be highly productive this year even with a fully healthy Achane leading the platoon, Wright should greatly outperform his lowly 15th-round ADP regardless of the starter's status.

No. 2: Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ backfield has been flipped from the start of 2024. Rachaad White will now serve as the backup to Bucky Irving, who opened last year as the second-stringer.

While Irving was clearly Tampa’s best rusher last season—he put up 1,122 yards and eight scores on only 207 carries—both backs proved competent and capable in the passing game.

Despite being demoted, White held onto some value in PPR leagues by slightly outperforming his rookie competition in both receptions (51 vs. 47) and receiving yardage (393 vs. 392) while scoring all six of the pair’s receiving touchdowns.

It's unlikely that White will continue to outsnap Irving after he was on the field for 75 more offensive plays last year, but it’s doubtful he’ll cede a truly significant amount of work in 2025.

White is still well worth a pickup near his current 12th-round ADP. He’s going to remain heavily involved in the passing game and has the potential to re-emerge as the Bucs’ leading backfield option if Irving goes down with an injury.

No. 1: Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo

Zach Charbonnet has been and will remain one of the best handcuffs you can target in fantasy football.

While he’s been stuck in the shadow of Kenneth Walker III since the team selected him in the second round of the 2023 draft, Charbonnet has consistently produced when called upon. He’s had little in the way of availability issues—missing just one game thus far—and performs well when he's elevated into the starting lineup.

Charbonnet showed exactly that in 2024 when Walker was sidelined for six contests. The reliable backup never logged a finish below RB30 in any of his spot starts, including putting up three top-10 performances and even pacing the position with a dominant 38.3-point outing in Week 14.

While Charbonnet generally doesn’t get enough touches to produce at a meaningful level when Walker is healthy, there should be more opportunities for him to work as Seattle’s primary backfield option in 2025. Walker has missed 10 games in his three NFL seasons and could even be a potential trade candidate as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Should Walker go down with injury or be dealt leading up to the deadline, managers with the foresight to capitalize on Charbonnet’s current 10th-round value could be richly rewarded.