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Philadelphia Eagles · 2026
Who is Will Shipley’s handcuff?
Explore the full Philadelphia Eagles depth chart, player roles and draft history
The published handcuff answer
Dameon Pierce
Behind Will Shipley · PHI
Dameon Pierce is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Will Shipley in our published Week 5 Philadelphia Eagles analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Barkley out; Pierce is the body behind Shipley
Handcuff score
Backup opportunity, not projected points or an injury probability.
Analysis published . Status and role notes reflect that board.
Check official availability and your league’s transaction rules before adding.
Philadelphia Eagles backfield overview
If Will Shipley misses time
Philadelphia's own Week 5 London injury report, published Friday Oct 9, lists Saquon Barkley (hamstring) as out after he did not practice, and NFL Network reported Oct 5 that he is week-to-week, so no firm return date exists. With Tank Bigsby on injured reserve after core-muscle surgery, Will Shipley is the lead back and Dameon Pierce, signed off the practice squad Oct 7, is the only other back on the active roster, making him next up if Shipley cannot go. Pierce is free in almost every league; for him to matter Shipley would have to miss time or the early-down and goal-line work would have to tilt his way. Redraft: speculative bench body only. Dynasty: Barkley stays the back to own through a week-to-week absence, with Shipley a bridge.
Barkley (hamstring) was ruled out Friday for the London game against Jacksonville, a second straight absence, with NFL Network reporting a week-to-week timeline and no stated return date. Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve following core-muscle surgery reported Oct 5. Philadelphia signed Dameon Pierce from the practice squad to the active roster on Oct 7, leaving Shipley and Pierce as the active-roster backs, and the team's report has Shipley expected to handle the primary role.
Material change: Philadelphia signed Pierce from the practice squad to the active roster on Oct. 7, after Bigsby's core surgery and with Barkley's hamstring unsettled, and he is expected to work as the No. 2 back behind Will Shipley against Jacksonville in London. A downhill early-down runner with starting experience in Houston; now a real contingency rather than a name on the practice squad.
- availability_unverified
- starter_out
- stale_availability
- starter-out
- timetable-week-to-week
- unproven-volume
- committee-risk
- roster-churn-risk
Why this candidate scores here
The production behind the names
2026 regular season. Recorded production, not a projection. A missing stat line is not a zero.
| Player | Games with stats | Carries | Receptions | Total yards | PPR / game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 15 | 4 | 75 | 2.9 |
| — | — | — | — | — |
Carries + receptions, last 4 recorded games in 2026
Totals include all teams played for that season. Per-game averages use games with recorded stats. Source: nflverse player statistics.
Handcuff, backup and next-man-up questions
Who is Will Shipley’s handcuff?
Dameon Pierce is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Will Shipley in our published Week 5 Philadelphia Eagles analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Who is the backup running back behind Will Shipley?
Dameon Pierce is the preferred replacement candidate in the published Philadelphia Eagles board. The board lists him at RB3. A fantasy handcuff recommendation and an official depth-chart position can differ; compare the full team chart and role evidence.
Who is next up if Will Shipley misses a game?
Dameon Pierce is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Will Shipley in our published Week 5 Philadelphia Eagles analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs. Philadelphia's own Week 5 London injury report, published Friday Oct 9, lists Saquon Barkley (hamstring) as out after he did not practice, and NFL Network reported Oct 5 that he is week-to-week, so no firm return date exists. With Tank Bigsby on injured reserve after core-muscle surgery, Will Shipley is the lead back and Dameon Pierce, signed off the practice squad Oct 7, is the only other back on the active roster, making him next up if Shipley cannot go. Pierce is free in almost every league; for him to matter Shipley would have to miss time or the early-down and goal-line work would have to tilt his way. Redraft: speculative bench body only. Dynasty: Barkley stays the back to own through a week-to-week absence, with Shipley a bridge.
Should I add Dameon Pierce as a handcuff?
Consider Dameon Pierce if you have a spare bench spot and want exposure to the replacement role behind Will Shipley. His value depends on availability, competition for carries and receiving work, and your league’s roster rules. A handcuff is not automatically a useful starter this week. Review the dated analysis, current injury reports and the next kickoff before adding.
Compare backup running backs and next-man-up candidates for every team. Published depth and scores come from the documented roster, depth-chart and scoring process; they do not establish game-day availability.
Sources behind the analysis
- Eagles at Jaguars Injury Report (2026 NFL Week 5, London International Game)
- Report: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley is week-to-week with hamstring injury
- Tank Bigsby (core) to have surgery, heading to IR
Published analysis may use automated research. How evidence and recommendations are handled.
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