There is no exact science for this because teams increasingly use committees (ex: BUF, CHI, SF), and there are obviously receiving specialists (like James White and Jalen Richard, who aren’t listed below because they will have basically the same role no matter what) or guys that simply have a stable weekly role (like Austin Ekeler, who is listed as the “longshot” behind Justin Jackson but should be ranked as a better standalone option in drafts this summer). For an explanation for something below, we can answer any and all questions via Fantasy Consigliere.

 

Arizona Cardinals

Starter: David Johnson

Handcuff: Chase Edmonds

Longshot: T.J. Logan

 

Atlanta Falcons

Starter: Devonta Freeman

Handcuff: Ito Smith

Longshot: Qadree Ollison

 

Baltimore Ravens

Starter: Mark Ingram

Handcuff: Justice Hill

Longshot: Gus Edwards

 

Buffalo Bills

Starter: LeSean McCoy

Handcuff: Frank Gore

Longshot: Devin Singletary

 

Carolina Panthers

Starter: Christian McCaffrey

Handcuff: Elijah Holyfield

Longshot: Cameron Artis-Payne

 

Chicago Bears

Starter: David Montgomery

Handcuff: Tarik Cohen

Longshot: Mike Davis

 

Cincinnati Bengals

Starter: Joe Mixon

Handcuff: Giovani Bernard

Longshot: Trayveon Williams

 

Cleveland Browns

Starter: Nick Chubb

Handcuff: Duke Johnson

Longshot: Dontrell Hilliard

 

Dallas Cowboys

Starter: Ezekiel Elliott

Handcuff: Tony Pollard

Longshot: Mike Weber

 

Denver Broncos

Starter: Royce Freeman

Handcuff: Phillip Lindsay

Longshot: Devontae Booker

 

Detroit Lions

Starter: Kerryon Johnson

Handcuff: C.J. Anderson

Longshot: Zach Zenner

 

Green Bay Packers

Starter: Aaron Jones

Handcuff: Jamaal Williams

Longshot: Dexter Williams

 

Houston Texans

Starter: Lamar Miller

Handcuff: D’Onta Foreman

Longshot: Karan Higdon

 

Indianapolis Colts

Starter: Marlon Mack

Handcuff: Spencer Ware

Longshot: Nyheim Hines

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Starter: Leonard Fournette

Handcuff: Ryquell Armstead

Longshot: Alfred Blue

 

Kansas City Chiefs

Starter: Damien Williams

Handcuff: Carlos Hyde

Longshot: Darrel Williams

 

Los Angeles Chargers

Starter: Melvin Gordon

Handcuff: Justin Jackson

Longshot: Austin Ekeler

 

Los Angeles Rams

Starter: Todd Gurley

Handcuff: Darrell Henderson

Longshot: Malcolm Brown

 

Miami Dolphins

Starter: Kenyan Drake

Handcuff: Kalen Ballage

Longshot: Myles Gaskin

 

Minnesota Vikings

Starter: Dalvin Cook

Handcuff: Alexander Mattison

Longshot: Michael Boone

 

New England Patriots

Starter: Sony Michel

Handcuff: Damien Harris

Longshot: Rex Burkhead

 

New Orleans Saints

Starter: Alvin Kamara

Handcuff: Latavius Murray

Longshot: Devin Ozigbo

 

New York Giants

Starter: Saquon Barkley

Handcuff: Wayne Gallman

Longshot: Rod Smith

 

New York Jets

Starter: Le’Veon Bell

Handcuff: Ty Montgomery

Longshot: Bilal Powell

 

Oakland Raiders

Starter: Josh Jacobs

Handcuff: Doug Martin

Longshot: Chris Warren

 

Philadelphia Eagles

Starter: Jordan Howard

Handcuff: Miles Sanders

Longshot: Corey Clement

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Starter: James Conner

Handcuff: Jaylen Samuels

Longshot: Benny Snell

 

San Francisco 49ers

Starter: Tevin Coleman

Handcuff: Matt Breida

Longshot: Jerick McKinnon

 

Seattle Seahawks

Starter: Chris Carson

Handcuff: Rashaad Penny

Longshot: Travis Homer

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starter: Ronald Jones 

Handcuff: Peyton Barber

Longshot: Andre Ellington

 

Tennessee Titans

Starter: Derrick Henry

Handcuff: Dion Lewis

Longshot: David Fluellen

 

Washington Redskins

Starter: Adrian Peterson

Handcuff: Derrius Guice

Longshot: Bryce Love