Week 4 delivered some surprising performances that have fantasy football managers scrambling to the waiver wire for Week 5 pickups. Several running backs emerged from backup roles to post significant fantasy numbers, creating new opportunities for savvy managers looking to improve their rosters.
With bye weeks officially beginning and affecting teams like the Steelers, Falcons, Bears, and Packers, the need for depth pieces has become even more critical. The landscape is shifting quickly, and identifying the right handcuffs and emerging talents could make the difference between playoff contention and disappointment.
Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered: 4%
Don’t let the fantasy numbers fool you. This is Trey Benson’s backfield. Emari Demercado was exclusively the third-down back and did not see any meaningful snaps until hurry-up mode in the fourth quarter. He just happened to be the one on the field who caught the late touchdown, which was only his fourth touch of the game.
Demercado’s touchdown is immaterial to his appearing on this list. The simple fact is he’s now the clear handcuff to Benson.
With James Conner done for the year, this isn’t a situation where Demercado’s handcuff value has an expiration date. If Benson were to go down, he would be presumptive lead back. In deeper leagues, that’s worth a stash.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered: 1%
This number is about to skyrocket. Trey Benson banged his knee toward the end of last week’s game and, according to Adam Schefter, his Week 5 status is “in doubt.” Of course, Demercado needs to be added, but he is no guarantee to take over the lead back role.
Michael Carter served as the Cardinals’ RB1 late last season during their last barrage of injuries. Cardinals beat reporters seem to think he could do so again, especially in light of his recent signing to the 53-man roster.
Schefter added that Benson’s injury is not serious. He will fully reclaim his starting role upon his return. But even a one week absence could make Carter a top 24 running back against a porous Titans run defense.
Aggressiveness Rating: N/A. He is a free agent at this point and not on waivers.
Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered: 22%
Despite reports that he was expected to play, Jaylen Warren wound up being a surprise inactive early Sunday morning for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ contest against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin. That thrust Kenneth Gainwell into the starting role. Well…he delivered.
Gainwell was not just a viable RB2; he was the overall RB1. A true bellcow, the former Eagle turned 25 touches into 134 yards, posting 31.4 fantasy points.
Given how close Warren was to playing, he’s probably going to be fine. The Steelers having a bye next week likely played a role, giving Warren two full weeks to rest up. That makes adding Gainwell a little trickier, as you have to sit on him for a week with the hope that he will be potentially usable in Week 6.
With that said, Gainwell is very clearly a high upside handcuff, at worst. Plus, it stands to reason this performance earned him a larger weekly role. Simply put, he needs to be rostered.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Zavier Scott, Minnesota Vikings
Rostered: 1%
Whenever a player scores a touchdown, it typically draws the attention of fantasy managers. That will automatically put Zavier Scott on people’s radar.
Scott is currently the RB2 behind Jordan Mason. The team elevated Cam Akers from the practice squad, but he remains firmly the RB3 and did not play a single snap.
A former wide receiver, Scott was most effective in the passing game, catching five of seven targets for 34 yards and a touchdown. Of course, that won’t be the norm with the Vikings not likely to see a negative game script to this degree often.
Even so, Scott is the Jordan Mason handcuff. In deeper leagues, that alone makes him worthy of a roster spot.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Woody Marks, Houston Texans
Rostered: 30%
Howdy partner! Week 4 was the beginning of the Woody Marks takeover.
Nick Chubb continues to look very slow and ineffective. Meanwhile, the rookie looks quick and shifty. Plus, he is a vastly superior pass catcher.
Marks carried the ball 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown on the ground, adding four receptions for 50 yards and another score through the air. Chubb had 13 carries for 47 yards.
The decision is clear. Marks out-snapped Chubb by 10. The change is coming. Expect to see more Marks in the future. Now is the time to grab him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 7.5
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Rostered: 5%
Kendre Miller legitimately looks good. He’s obviously going to be tough to consider in fantasy lineups while Alvin Kamara is healthy. But he did see 11 carries, which he turned into 65 yards and a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills.
The other issue is that even if Miller does end up in the RB1 role, which would only happen in the event of a Kamara injury, this Saints offense does not throw to running backs. Kamara is on pace for the lowest target share of his career.
Miller is not a must-add because his best-case scenario is that he becomes a touchdown-or-bust RB3. But you can pick him up if you want to stash a clear handcuff.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Rostered: 35%
It continues to be surprising how low-rostered Tyler Allgeier is. He remains one of the highest upside handcuffs in fantasy. Not just that, Allgeier has some standalone value. He’s now posted double-digit fantasy points in half his games.
Allgeier carried the ball 16 times for 51 yards and a touchdown in a game where Bijan Robinson had 21 touches and 181 yards. The Atlanta Falcons want to run the ball. If Robinson ever missed time, Allgeier would be a 20+ touch workhorse.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rostered: 40%
I will give Rachaad White his due. He’s worked his way back into Todd Bowles’ good graces. No longer do I believe that if Bucky Irving were to miss time, Sean Tucker would be the guy. It would be White.
There still isn’t enough for White to have standalone value. His 8.6 fantasy points are passable if you’re in a bind, but he is just as liable to post the 2.4 he did the previous week. This is Bucky Irving’s backfield.
If Irving were to miss time, though, White would be an every-week RB2. For that reason alone, he should be rostered more heavily.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rostered: 5%
White is probably rostered in your league at this point. Sean Tucker is not. White will start for an injured Bucky Irving this week, but he’s not going to be a three-down back.
The Bucs like Tucker and he’s produced well in the past, ripping off 196 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 of last season. There is upside here.
We could very well see Tucker assume roughly 70% of Irving’s early down work. This should be a timeshare in White’s favor, but given all of the injuries across the NFL, Tucker handling 10-12 carries plus goal line work is enough to justify a spot in lineups.
Aggressiveness Rating: N/A. He is a free agent at this point and not on waivers.
Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
Rostered: 20%
Unless he happens to fall into the end zone, Rico Dowdle will not be a viable fantasy starter. First, he remains the RB2 behind Chuba Hubbard. Second, the Carolina Panthers’ offense is terrible. Bryce Young has fully regressed to the player he was before his benching last season. He does not look like someone who will keep this job for the entire season.
There is a positive, though. Dowdle still saw 10 opportunities. And he may very well be the goal line back.
If Hubbard were to go down, Dowdle would be the lead back with Trevor Etienne slipping into his current role. That’s worth a back-of-the-roster spot.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
Rostered: 4%
These weeks will happen. The Baltimore Ravens found themselves facing a negative game script. That led to Justice Hill out-snapping Derrick Henry. The satellite back turned eight touches into 117 total yards and two touchdowns.
This is why Justice Hill is a good Best Ball pick. He’s not so much a great managed league pick because it’s impossible to predict.
Hill’s roster percentage will undoubtedly go up because fantasy managers are reactionary, but he’s the same player now that he was before his 28.7-point outburst.
You can add him if you want. Hill is the type of player who won’t get you zero. But you will never feel confident starting him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.0
Isaiah Davis, New York Jets
Rostered: 0%
On Monday night, the Jets lost Braelon Allen to what looks like a sprained MCL. It’s an injury that could cost him 4-6 weeks. That takes the Jets’ three-man backfield down to two men.
Breece Hall is the biggest beneficiary, as he may see upwards of a 70% opportunity share now. But the other guy moving up the depth chart is Isaiah Davis.
The Jets are not going to keep a three-man backfield just for the sake of doing so. It was based on the personnel they had. Without Allen, this will consolidate to just Hall and Davis.
In the right game script, Davis could be a desperation RB3. At worst, he’s now the Hall handcuff. With all of the injuries across the NFL, Davis is worth adding.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
