With the NFL trade deadline approaching on November 10, the landscape for running back handcuffs is drawing intense scrutiny as teams weigh potential roster moves. Star players appearing in trade rumors could create immediate vacancies, transforming backup options into high-volume starters for the remainder of the season.
In Indianapolis, the front office is navigating a difficult 2-4 start following the departure of former general manager Chris Ballard. Interim general manager Ed Dodds and owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon face a rebuilding window without a first-round pick in the 2027 draft, making star running back Jonathan Taylor an attractive trade chip to replenish draft capital. Taylor currently ranks as the fantasy RB5, averaging 20 attempts per game with a league-leading eight rushing scores.
Should Taylor be dealt, rookie seventh-round pick Seth McGowan stands as the direct successor. McGowan is the only other Colts running back to log a carry this season, compiling 134 rushing yards on 32 carries for an average of 4.2 yards per attempt. Last week, McGowan played a season-high 34 percent of snaps, recording 11 carries for 46 yards and one catch. Depth behind him remains thin, as second-year back DJ Giddens was a healthy scratch in Week 7 and has yet to see game action.
In Denver, rookie running back Jonah Coleman has quickly disrupted a three-back committee after returning from a high-ankle sprain that placed him on injured reserve. During his first game back, Coleman commanded a team-leading 50 percent snap share, turning 10 carries into 49 yards alongside two catches. Backfield counterparts JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey each scored touchdowns but logged significantly lower snap shares at 21 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Following the performance, head coach Sean Payton indicated that Coleman requires additional touches moving forward. Drafted out of Washington in the fourth round, Coleman entered the league with high upside as a contingency for the frequently injured Dobbins, positioning himself as a borderline flex option in deeper leagues with room for an expanding workload.
Philadelphia faces a turbulent stretch after losing quarterback Jalen Hurts for the remainder of the season due to blood clots. Meanwhile, veteran running back Saquon Barkley recently returned from a hamstring injury for Monday Night Football, though he was visibly hobbled by lingering hamstring and back issues while expressing a desire to play in Week 8. If Barkley proves healthy over the coming weeks, general manager Howie Roseman could look to recoup draft assets by trading the veteran.
During Barkley’s absence in Week 6, Dameon Pierce handled a massive 95 percent snap share, totaling 12 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown alongside four catches for 15 yards to finish as the RB11 with 15.0 PPR points. Pierce continued to work alongside Barkley on Monday Night Football but exited the game in the fourth quarter, leaving his health status alongside Barkley’s as a key situation to monitor. Elijah Mitchell stepped in as the next option, recording three carries and two catches, while desperate managers weigh holding Pierce through the deadline in case the Eagles part ways with Barkley.
