Who Is Derrick Henry’s Handcuff in Fantasy Football? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you drafted Derrick Henry this season, you already know he is one of the safest bets at running back in fantasy football. But even the most durable workhorse in the league can go down, and that is exactly why smart fantasy managers spend a late round pick protecting their investment. So who is Derrick Henry’s handcuff, and is he actually worth rostering? The short answer is Justice Hill, Baltimore’s longtime pass catching back, with Keaton Mitchell lingering in the background as the higher upside name fantasy managers keep asking about. Below, we break down Henry’s career context, Hill’s full journey through Baltimore’s depth chart, how the numbers stack up, and what this entire situation teaches every fantasy manager about smart handcuffing strategy. Here is everything you need to know before your next draft.

Who Is Derrick Henry’s Handcuff and Why Does It Matter?

Justice Hill is Derrick Henry’s primary handcuff on the Baltimore Ravens. He has served as the team’s third down back and passing game specialist for several seasons, and he is the player who would absorb the largest share of touches if Henry were ever sidelined.

A handcuff in fantasy football simply means the backup running back on the same roster as your starter. The idea is straightforward: if your lead back gets injured, the handcuff instantly becomes a valuable fantasy asset because he steps into a larger workload overnight.

This matters more with Henry than with most starting running backs for one simple reason. Baltimore rarely uses a committee approach. Henry handles the bulk of the early down work, which means his direct backup would likely see a significant jump in carries and targets the moment he is unavailable. That is a very different situation than a backfield that already splits touches evenly, where an injury changes very little.

Handcuffing carries extra weight in best ball and deeper redraft formats, where roster spots are precious and managers cannot always stream a waiver wire replacement mid week.

Derrick Henry’s Career: Why the Handcuff Question Carries So Much Weight

To understand why fantasy managers care so deeply about Henry’s backup, it helps to look at what Henry himself has accomplished and why his workload is so unusual for a player at his stage of his career.

Biggest Career Milestone

Henry has already built a Hall of Fame caliber resume. He won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama, led the NFL in rushing yards twice, and became just the eighth running back in league history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. He has also topped 12,000 career rushing yards, placing him among the most productive ball carriers of his generation.

What Sets Henry Apart

At 6 feet 2 inches and roughly 247 to 252 pounds, Henry combines rare size with a workload that most backs his age simply do not carry anymore. He is still averaging close to 20 touches per game deep into his thirties, a workload that would wear down almost any other running back in the league. That combination of bulk, volume, and continued production is precisely why his health status swings fantasy leagues.

The Unanswered Question

Henry signed a two year extension with Baltimore in 2025, a clear signal that the front office still trusts him as the lead back. Still, every fantasy manager who drafts him is quietly asking the same question. How much longer can a 32 year old running back with this much mileage keep performing at an elite level? That uncertainty is exactly why identifying the right handcuff is not optional, it is part of any responsible draft strategy.

Henry’s 2025 campaign underscored this point. He remained productive with 1,745 total yards and 16 touchdowns, but it was a noticeably quieter season than his historic 2024 output. That does not change his role heading into 2026, but it does reinforce why fantasy managers should never treat a lead back’s health as guaranteed.

Who Is Derrick Henry’s Handcuff? Meet Justice Hill

Justice Hill is a running back for the Baltimore Ravens who has quietly built a long career as the team’s complementary back. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State, where he was known for his speed and receiving ability out of the backfield.

Hill stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs around 205 pounds, giving him a completely different build than Henry. That size difference is actually part of what makes the pairing work so well for Baltimore. Hill offers change of pace speed and pass protection, while Henry provides the power running that wears down opposing defenses. Together, the two backs have formed a low key but effective one two punch in Baltimore’s backfield for the past several seasons.

Justice Hill’s NFL Career: A Seven Year Grind in Baltimore

Hill’s path in Baltimore has not been flashy, but it has been remarkably consistent given the setbacks along the way.

• 2019 to 2020: Hill entered the league as a rotational back, learning the Ravens offense behind established veterans.
• 2021: A torn Achilles tendon suffered in the preseason wiped out his entire season, a significant setback early in his career.
• 2022: Hill returned to the field and gradually worked his way back into a regular role in the passing game.
• 2023: He earned five starts and continued to carve out a niche as Baltimore’s third down option.
• September 2024: The Ravens rewarded his consistency with a two year, six million dollar contract extension, a clear vote of confidence from the front office.
• 2024 season: Hill delivered his most productive fantasy stretch yet, scoring double digit PPR points in five of his first fourteen games while catching an outstanding 92 percent of his targets.
• 2025 season: Hill appeared in ten games, rushing 18 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns while catching 21 of 27 targets for 169 yards and an additional score. A neck injury suffered in practice ended his season in late November, and he landed on injured reserve for the remainder of the year.

That kind of durability, resilience after a serious injury, and consistent role across a coaching change is exactly the profile fantasy managers should want in a handcuff.

Justice Hill’s Role and Fantasy Value in 2025 to 26

Heading into the new season, Hill is expected to reclaim his familiar role as Baltimore’s passing down specialist behind Henry. He is reportedly back to full health after his neck injury, and the Ravens have not signaled any plan to reduce his role.

Season	Games	Rush Att	Rush Yds	Rec	Rec Yds	Total TDs
2024	14	Limited	292.3 avg (3 yr)	High share	Strong efficiency	Multiple
2025	10	18	93	21	169	3

In deep leagues, or in any league where you drafted Henry early, Hill is a sensible late round dart throw. His fantasy ceiling without a Henry injury is modest, largely tied to receiving touchdowns and favorable game scripts. But his floor is still useful in PPR formats, since he reliably catches nearly every target thrown his way.

The biggest wrinkle for 2026 is added competition. Baltimore selected Clemson running back Adam Randall in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he brings legitimate size and a strong college workload. At 6 feet 2 inches and 235 pounds, Randall converted from wide receiver late in his college career and still led Clemson with 814 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on a 65.1 percent carry share in his final season. That kind of production is impossible for coaches to ignore, even for a rookie.

Hill still holds the experience edge, a proven receiving skill set, and the coaching staff’s trust built over multiple seasons, but this is now a genuine battle worth monitoring through training camp and the preseason. Fantasy managers should check the latest depth chart reports before finalizing their draft rankings, since a strong August for Randall could quietly shift touches away from Hill even if Hill keeps the starting handcuff label on paper.

Keaton Mitchell: The Second Handcuff Option Worth Watching

For several seasons, Keaton Mitchell was the name fantasy managers whispered about as the true wildcard in Baltimore’s backfield. An undrafted free agent out of East Carolina in 2023, Mitchell flashed rare explosiveness as a rookie, averaging an eye opening 8.4 yards per carry across 47 attempts before a torn ACL ended his season.

Mitchell never fully recaptured that early spark. Injuries limited him to just 13 games across his first two NFL seasons, and he struggled to carve out consistent touches even when healthy, averaging only a handful of carries and targets per game in 2025. He departed Baltimore in free agency ahead of the 2026 season, signing elsewhere.

Even though Mitchell is no longer on the Ravens roster, his name still matters in this conversation for one reason. He is a reminder that pure athleticism does not always translate into opportunity, and that draft capital and coaching trust often matter more than upside in a crowded backfield.

Fantasy managers evaluating the current Ravens depth chart should treat Hill as the primary handcuff and watch how Adam Randall’s rookie season develops as the new secondary name worth tracking. In dynasty leagues especially, Randall’s draft capital and college workload make him more relevant going forward than Mitchell’s name value alone would suggest.

Influence Table: Comparable Handcuff Situations Across the NFL

Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are far from the only workhorse and backup pairing fantasy managers should understand. Here is how a few other notable situations compare heading into the season.

Starting RB	Primary Handcuff	Why It Matters
Derrick Henry	Justice Hill	Pass catching backup with a proven, if limited, role
Saquon Barkley	Tank Bigsby	Efficient per touch producer in a run heavy offense
Jonathan Taylor	DJ Giddens	Rookie stepping into a clearly defined backup role
Josh Jacobs	Chris Brooks	Limited but ready if the starter misses time
Kyren Williams	Blake Corum	Former college star waiting for his opportunity
James Cook	Ray Davis	Change of pace back who could see real volume

Studying these pairings side by side shows a pattern. The best handcuffs are not always the most explosive athletes. They are the backs who already have a defined role, coaching trust, and a track record of staying on the field when called upon.

Fantasy Football Handcuff Strategy: What the Derrick Henry Situation Teaches Us

The Henry and Hill pairing offers a useful blueprint for how to think about handcuffing in general. Keep these principles in mind on draft day.

• Prioritize workhorse backs first. Handcuffing only matters when the starter commands a huge share of the offense. Henry’s heavy workload is exactly why his backup carries real value.
• Value receiving role over raw athleticism. Hill’s guaranteed passing down snaps give him a fantasy floor that a more explosive but unproven backup would not have.
• Watch training camp battles closely. Depth chart competitions, like the one between Hill and rookie Adam Randall, can shift a handcuff’s value dramatically before Week 1.
• Save handcuffs for the final rounds. Unless you own the starter, there is rarely a reason to spend a valuable pick on a backup who may never see the field.
• Reassess after roster cuts and trades. Depth charts change quickly in August, so revisit your handcuff rankings right before your draft, not weeks in advance.
• Consider league format. Deeper leagues and those with strong PPR scoring make pass catching handcuffs like Hill more valuable than they would be in shallow, standard scoring formats.
• Do not overpay out of fear. A handcuff is a low cost insurance policy, not a mid round investment. Spending too high a pick on a backup usually costs you a more impactful starter elsewhere.

Personal Life and Background

Justice Hill was born on November 14, 1997, and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Booker T. Washington High School before staying close to home to play college football at Oklahoma State University, where he built the receiving skills that would eventually define his NFL role.

Hill has kept a relatively low profile off the field throughout his career, letting his on field consistency speak for itself. His journey from a fourth round pick to a veteran with multiple contract extensions reflects a player who has built trust with his organization year after year, even without ever becoming a household name.

Legacy and Impact: What Justice Hill’s Persistence Actually Represents

Justice Hill will likely never be a fantasy football star. He may never lead the Ravens in touches, and he may never be a must start option outside of specific matchups. But his career tells a different, equally important story.

Hill has survived a torn Achilles, adapted to a new head coach in Jesse Minter after John Harbaugh’s long tenure ended, and continued to hold his role as new draft picks arrived to challenge him. That kind of quiet durability is often overlooked in a league that celebrates highlight reel runs and viral touchdowns.

For fantasy managers, Hill’s career is a reminder that value does not always come from ceiling. Sometimes it comes from being the player a coaching staff trusts to be ready the moment an opportunity appears. That is the entire premise behind handcuffing, and Hill represents it about as well as any backup in the league.

It is also worth remembering that Hill has now played under multiple offensive coordinators, survived several training camp roster battles, and outlasted other backfield competitors along the way. Very few backup running backs manage that kind of staying power in a league where roster spots are constantly under threat. Whatever happens with Henry’s health this season, Hill’s track record suggests he will be ready if his number is called.

Conclusion

Derrick Henry’s handcuff in fantasy football is Justice Hill, the Ravens’ dependable third down back who has quietly built a seven year career around receiving work and situational usage. Keaton Mitchell was once considered the higher upside alternative, but his departure from Baltimore in 2026 free agency shifts attention toward rookie Adam Randall as the name to track behind Hill.

If you own Derrick Henry, especially in a deeper league, rostering Hill in the final rounds is a low cost way to protect your investment. He will not win you a championship on his own, but he offers a reasonable floor if Henry ever misses extended time, and that peace of mind is exactly what handcuffing is meant to provide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Derrick Henry’s Handcuff

Who is Derrick Henry’s handcuff in fantasy football?

Justice Hill is Derrick Henry’s primary handcuff on the Baltimore Ravens, with rookie Adam Randall as a developing secondary option in 2026.

What is a fantasy football handcuff?

A handcuff is a backup running back on the same team as your starter, drafted specifically to protect against an injury to that starter.

Is Justice Hill worth drafting in fantasy football?

Yes, in deeper or PPR leagues where you already own Derrick Henry, Hill is a reasonable late round pick due to his safe passing down role.

How old is Justice Hill?

Justice Hill was born on November 14, 1997, making him 28 years old entering the 2026 season.

Where is Justice Hill from?

Justice Hill was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he attended Booker T. Washington High School.

What happened to Justice Hill in 2021?

Hill tore his Achilles tendon during the 2021 preseason, which kept him sidelined for the entire season.

What did Justice Hill do in the 2025 NFL season?

Hill rushed 18 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns and caught 21 of 27 targets for 169 yards and a touchdown before a neck injury ended his season in November.

Is Keaton Mitchell a better handcuff than Justice Hill?

Mitchell offered more explosive upside when healthy, but injuries limited his availability, and he left Baltimore in 2026 free agency, making Hill the clearer current handcuff.