Running Back Handcuffs Update for Week 8: Is Seth McGowan's Time Coming?

With the NFL trade deadline looming on Nov. 10, it's time to take a look at the running back handcuff landscape with a particular eye on the latest trade rumors.

Jonathan Taylor is the biggest name reportedly on the trade block, so we begin with the Colts' RB handcuff who happened to play his biggest role of the season last week.

Here are the latest running back handcuffs to monitor heading into Week 8.

RB Handcuff Updates for Week 8

Seth McGowan | RB | IND

The Colts fired GM Chris Ballard last week amid the team's 2-4 start to the season. Last year's squad surprised, starting off 8-2 and adding Sauce Gardner in a blockbuster trade-deadline exchange. But the team melted down the stretch, losing its next seven games and missing the playoffs with an 8-9 record.

Things haven't gone much better this year, and now the Colts are facing another lost season—this time with no first-round pick to fall back on in the 2027 draft. It would be wise for interim GM Ed Dodds and owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon to replenish the team's draft capital if possible.

Start running back Jonathan Taylor is the team's most relevant trade chip from a fantasy perspective, and his contract is worth shedding to a contender. Rookie RB Seth McGowan looks to be the direct successor as the only other Colts running back to handle a carry in 2026. The seventh-rounder out of Kentucky has put up 134 rushing yards on 32 carries for the exact 4.2 yards per attempt as Taylor has logged (over a much larger sample).

Last week, McGowan played a season-high 34% of snaps, with 11 carries for 46 yards and one catch. The Colts have very little depth behind him, as second-year back DJ Giddens was a healthy scratch in Week 7 and has yet to see the field this season.

We obviously can't expect Jonathan Taylor-level production out of a seventh-round rookie in the Colts' mediocre offense, but the team's conservative approach does offer a path to a significant workload. Taylor is currently the RB5 thanks to the 20 attempts per game he's averaging, along with a league-leading eight rushing scores. If Taylor is moved, McGowan will immediately inherit a legitimate RB2 workload.

Jonah Coleman | RB | DEN

We mentioned Jonah Coleman as a running back handcuff stash last week as the rookie worked his way back from a high-ankle sprain that landed him on IR after a promising start. In his first game back, Coleman surprisingly led the team's three-back committee with a 50% snap share, 10 carries for 49 yards and two catches. JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey both scored touchdowns but played significantly less than Coleman (21% and 25% snap shares, respectively).

After the game, head coach Sean Payton praised the rookie and said he needs more touches. Draft gurus loved the fourth-rounder out of Washington coming into the league, and fantasy drafters viewed him as a high-upside handcuff to the oft-injured Dobbins. It looks like the rookie could eat into both Dobbins' and Harvey's roles sooner than expected.

Three-way committees are annoying, but Coleman appears to be in pole position. He's a borderline flex in deep leagues now with plenty of room to grow.

Demeon Pierce | RB | PHI

Things in Philly have gone from bad to worse with news that Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the season due to blood clots. Saquon Barkley missed two weeks with a hamstring injury but returned for Monday Night Football. If Barkley can prove healthy over the next two to three weeks, it wouldn't be shocking for Eagles GM Howie Roseman to recoup a draft pick or two for the veteran's services. Barkley was visibly hobbled by hamstring and back injuries during MNF but said after the game that he hopes to play in Week 8.

Dameon Pierce didn't wow the scouts in Week 6 while filling in for Saquon with 12 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 15 yards. Still, a 95% snap share goes a long way in the fantasy streets, and Pierce finished as the RB11 with 15.0 PPR points. Pierce scored a touchdown working in tandem with Barkley on Monday Night Football but left the game in the fourth quarter. His health needs to be monitored along with Barkley's.

Elijah Mitchell was the next man up for Philly, taking three carries and catching two passes. Desperate managers should monitor Pearce's health and potentially hold him through the deadline in case the Eagles move Barkley and don't add additional RB competition.

More Running Back Handcuffs to Roster

Zach Charbonnet: Still only 69% rostered despite returning to practice and facing surmountable competition for a big role in Seattle.
Samaje Perine: Scored again in Week 7 and continues to play well behind the disappointing Chase Brown.
Kaelon Black: Looked great in an expanded role with Christian McCaffrey dinged up in Week 7. CMC appears to be fine, but this continues to be one of the highest-upside handcuff situations in the game.
Emmett Johnson: High-upside Kenneth Walker handcuff.
Ray Davis: High-upside James Cook handcuff.
Kenneth Gainwell: Finally got in on the action against Carolina and would assume a solid role if Bucky Irving were to miss time.
Braelon Allen: A hold until we see if Breece Hall returns and whether Allen has earned a bigger role.
Dylan Sampson: Cleveland's best receiving back and a young player who can handle a bigger job if Quinshon Judkins misses any more time.
Rico Dowdle: Solid workload in his second game back; would be a fantasy RB2 if Jaylen Warren misses time.