Since the dawn of fantasy football, "handcuffing" RBs (i.e. taking two RBs from the same team) has been a controversial move. 

Conservative drafters have gravitated to it as a way to lock up all of the points from a single backfield, while detractors claim it limits upside and burns a roster spot that could be used to make a bet on another backfield.

But not all "handcuffs" are created equal. When that term was initially coined, it mostly referred to a backup RB who would only return value if the starter got hurt.

Today's NFL features a much less binary RB landscape, however, with nearly every team in the league utilizing some kind of RBBC (running back by committee). It is now very possible for two backs from the same team to return value even without an injury.

As you might recall, the best fantasy teams from 2023 had both Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane.

Those two Dolphins RBs finished 3rd and 4th in PPG for all RBs last year behind only Christian McCaffrey and Kyren Williams.

Mostert and Achane combined for an absurd 91 fantasy points in their Week 3 demolition of the Denver Broncos and propelled countless best ball squads to the playoff rounds. 

This performance, as well as the overall league-wide trend to committee backfields, requires us to update how we think about drafting two RBs from the same team.

It's something I've been doing more and more in my drafts, thanks to an ADP landscape that provides us with extremely favorable prices for stacking up backfields. 

Here are the three criteria I'm looking for when stacking up a backfield:

* Both Backs Are Cheap. I don't want to handcuff McCaffrey with Eli Mitchell or Breece Hall with Braelon Allen. When you make a first or second-round investment in an RB, you need that player to smash. If they get hurt, you'll be losing to the teams who have a different early-round player in addition to your handcuff. 

Last year, both Mostert and Achane were going in the double-digit rounds.

* There Are Two Clear Top Backs. If there's a third RB in the mix, things can get dicey from a fantasy standpoint. Last year all three Bears backs were cheap–Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and D'Onta Foreman–but there was a high likelihood of a full-blown RBBC that would cannibalize production (and that is exactly what happened). 

I will say, though…if the pieces are cheap enough, I don't mind taking stabs on two RBs from backfields with three cheap backs (Chargers, Browns, Broncos, Bears, for example), but it's not my preferred way to backfield stack because there's a good chance you are drafting a zero. 

* Both Backs Provide Standalone Value. This dovetails with the CMC/Mitchell and Hall/Allen examples. The best backfield stacks feature two RBs with complementing skill sets, as if they almost play different positions. Last year, Mostert derived most of his fantasy value from his goal-line role (18 rushing TDs) in a prolific offense, while Achane got there on efficiency and explosive plays. Ideally, we want our RBs to have both standalone value, as well as contingent value. 

With that in mind, here are my seven favorite running back handcuffs and stacks to target for fantasy football 2024.

1. Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott (ADP: 127) + Rico Dowdle (ADP: 141)

Not only is this the cheapest backfield in the league, but it's an offense that we know is going to generate plenty of scoring opportunities.

This is the perfect backfield to stack because it checks every one of the boxes we identified above (it's cheap, they are the clear top two backs, and they will each have a role).

2. Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard (100) + Tyjae Spears (111)

I wrote about this one in the Fantasy Life newsletter recently and it remains one of my favorite backfields to stack. I love that the team keeps talking up using them both interchangeably.

This team won't generate as many RB points as the Dolphins last year, but it's not hard to envision Pollard vacuuming up the rushing TDs and Spears delivering the splash plays.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

Zack Moss (91) + Chase Brown (121)

If there's one backfield that I think could give us the full encore to the Mostert/Achane dynamic from 2023, it's the Bengals.

Mixon is long gone and this offense will not only produce lots of goal-line opportunities (hello, Moss) but will also funnel lots of passes to the backs (hi there, Brown).

4. Carolina Panthers

Jonathan Brooks (87) + Chubba Hubbard (166)

This one is pretty straightforward.

Brooks is the best rookie back in this class and has RB1 potential down the stretch once he's fully recovered from his injury.

Hubbard has been a consistently good player and will be a strong RB2 for as long as Brooks is limited. There is a chance Hubbard is relegated to true handcuff by the fantasy playoffs, but his cost is so cheap that I don't mind this stack. 

5. New York Giants

Devin Singletary (110) + Tyrone Tracy (189)

This one is the inverse of the Brooks/Hubbard dynamic where the more expensive back is the projected starter early and the rookie is the potential late-season hammer.

This stack is more unconventional (and risky) because it involves a 5th-round rookie RB who might not be the clear RB2, but it removes a lot of the risk of a veteran like Singletary getting replaced by the end of the season when rookies typically see their roles expand.

Keep an eye on the backup battle between Tracy and Eric Gray before going too hard here, but the early reports on Tracy are positive. 

6. Washington Commanders

Brian Robinson Jr. (110) + Austin Ekeler (127)

This is a less "sexy" version of the Titans/Bengals stacks and a slightly more expensive version of the Cowboys stack, but it is still very much in play.

Ekeler continues to slide massively in drafts and I'm willing to blindly bet on a player who was a first-round pick last year in the 140s.

Pairing him with Robinson gives you the chance to capture all of the backfield points with two backs who will also have standalone roles.

7. New England Patriots

Rhamondre Stevenson (82) + Antonio Gibson (164)

Stevenson is the most expensive of all the backs we've discussed, but I still think this stack is viable because of Gibson's price and all of the uncertainty in New England (new coach, new QB).

The Stevenson extension makes it pretty clear that he will be the lead back, but it's very possible that Gibson has a standalone role as the pass-catching/hurry-up back.