Handcuff
A handcuff is the backup who inherits the workload if a starter goes down — almost always a running back, because backfields concentrate touches in one player more than any other position.
Drafting a handcuff means holding the second back on a depth chart specifically as insurance on the first. A true handcuff takes over the full role; most backfields split it two or three ways instead, which is the part the label hides.
Rushing Yards Over Expected — 2026 leaders
| # | Player | Att | Yds | RYOE | RYOE/Att | TD | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenneth Walker III | 87 | 537 | 211.8 | 2.52 | 4 | Read |
| 2 | Bijan Robinson | 102 | 580 | 161.2 | 1.68 | 4 | Read |
| 3 | Jaylen Warren | 70 | 410 | 126.9 | 1.87 | 1 | Read |
| 4 | James Cook | 95 | 532 | 88.5 | 0.96 | 5 | Read |
| 5 | Bucky Irving | 77 | 406 | 85.2 | 1.14 | 2 | Read |
| 6 | Chuba Hubbard | 61 | 306 | 78.3 | 1.28 | 3 | Read |
| 7 | Kyle Monangai | 60 | 324 | 66.4 | 1.17 | 3 | Read |
| 8 | Jahmyr Gibbs | 105 | 504 | 53.0 | 0.52 | 7 | Read |
| 9 | Kyren Williams | 70 | 343 | 40.8 | 0.60 | 4 | Read |
| 10 | Saquon Barkley | 36 | 182 | 40.1 | 1.15 | 0 | Read |
Why it matters
The case for handcuffs is arithmetic: carries per game is one of the most repeatable things in the sport at r=0.64 year over year, so the touches do not evaporate when the starter does — they move. The question is whether they move to one player, and whether that player is any good. Of the 18 backs who were not their team's leading carrier in 2025, Rhamondre Stevenson of the Patriots was the most efficient: 130 carries at +1.36 rushing yards over expected per attempt, 1st of 49 qualifying backs. Efficiency on a backup's sample is a hint, not a verdict.
The counter
Most backfields split the work rather than hand it over, so the insurance often pays out partially.
More football stats explained
- EPA (expected points added)
- EPA per dropback
- Success rate
- CPOE (completion percentage over expected)
- ANY/A (adjusted net yards per attempt)
- RYOE (rushing yards over expected)
- Target share
- Air yards share
- WOPR (weighted opportunity rating)
- aDOT (average depth of target)
- YAC over expected
- Separation
- Pressure rate
- Blitz rate
- Man and zone coverage splits
- PROE (pass rate over expected)
- Stacked box rate
- Half-PPR (and how it differs from full PPR)
- The usage gap (snaps versus production)
- Pythagorean wins
- Stickiness (what repeats and what does not)
- Snap share
- Pass-snap share
- YPRR (yards per route run)
- Availability (the “stayed” rate)
- Play-action rate
- Pre-snap motion rate
- Drop rate
- Contested catch rate
- Interception-worthy throws
- Quarterback-fault sacks
- Intended air yards (IAY)
- Deep ball rate
- QB Composite Rating
- Screen pass rate
- No-huddle rate
- RPO rate
- Light box rate
- Throwaway rate
- Catchable throw rate
- Out-of-pocket rate
- Time to throw
- Aggressiveness
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