what starting RB that you want needs the handcuff?

[double tour 46]

Mine is Hyde/Williams.

I like Hyde at his going cost, but either it be system/coaching or injury, I think Williams is a must get or dont even draft him.

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

Idk if Williams can thrive in an offense void of talent

[weepaws 2,450]

Peterson and Ingram.

 

D Murray and Henry.

 

Mixon and Hill

 

Lynch and Richard.

[Kopy 489]

I like Theo Riddick in Detroit and Lance Dunbar for the Rams.

Both go way later than the starters, but should Gurley or Abdullah get hurt. They could be good starts in ppr leagues.

[polecatt 399]

Darren McFadden for Ezekiel Elliott

He will cost next to nothing and should Zeke be out, he will be a top commodity

Of course this changes should Zeke get suspended

[BobSanders_33 127]

NumberFire did a good podcast on this topic. Basically, the numbers say that the cost of drafting and hold a handcuff work out at a very low rate. The average RB injury to the start happens at Week 7. By that time many of the handcuffs have already been put back on waivers to pick up other targets. Some of the RBs mentioned above are very expensive to handcuff in the Ingram/Peterson or Murray/Henry situations. Then you have the Lynch handcuff which could be Richard, Washington or Hood.

[weepaws 2,450]

That's a good one polecatt.

 

McFadden should be real cheap and pay off big if indeed the Zeke wasnt able to eat.

[weepaws 2,450]

Ware and Hunt is another one.

 

This is a great question, thanks for the post.

[ROCKFORD 134]

bell and conner

[double tour 46]

NumberFire did a good podcast on this topic. Basically, the numbers say that the cost of drafting and hold a handcuff work out at a very low rate. The average RB injury to the start happens at Week 7. By that time many of the handcuffs have already been put back on waivers to pick up other targets. Some of the RBs mentioned above are very expensive to handcuff in the Ingram/Peterson or Murray/Henry situations. Then you have the Lynch handcuff which could be Richard, Washington or Hood.

I actually look for cheap prices (auction) on key handcuffs for backs other teams have drafted. A couple backups can pan out after week 4 or so.

[double tour 46]

Ware and Hunt is another one.

This is a great question, thanks for the post.

Im putting hunt first in keepers. In redraft I may hold off. Not sure how long it will take for him to take over. FF season is short.

[Mike FF Today 607]

I'm with BobSanders on this one. Handcuffing limits the upside of your draft. I don't mind taking a flier on Darren McFadden late in a draft but don't feel compelled to do so if I already have Zeke on my roster. I'd rather take a stab at say Thomas Rawls, James Connor or DeAndre Washington, etc in hopes of having two productive RBs (Zeke and flier RB) instead of one (Zeke or McFadden).

[double tour 46]

I'm with BobSanders on this one. Handcuffing limits the upside of your draft. I don't mind taking a flier on Darren McFadden late in a draft but don't feel compelled to do so if I already have Zeke on my roster. I'd rather take a stab at say Thomas Rawls, James Connor or DeAndre Washington, etc in hopes of having two productive RBs (Zeke and flier RB) instead of one (Zeke or McFadden).

 

yeah, hashing through this makes me realize that i normally focus on other teams starter backups than i do on my own. i believe though in having a deeper bench for rbs than wrs etc... maybe tight ends fit in....

[dcgangstas 41]

I really don't like hand-cuffing because you're spending two relatively high draft picks for one spot.

 

Having said that, the one that you have to spend the high-value pick is Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. The Falcons are a high-octane prolific offense, and Coleman had 941 total yards and 11 TDs in 13 games.

 

If Freeman goes down with a significant injury, you have a guy that will put up RB1 fantasy numbers, and perhaps win you a league. So take Freeman at 1.10 in a 12-team draft, and spend the 6.03 on Coleman.

[Ray_T 587]

the first one on the list should be the 34 year old Gore. If he doesnt need a handcuff nobody does.

 

if you own Gore, Mack is the late round pick u need for an insurance policy.

[weepaws 2,450]

Mack is someone I'm truly going to target, I just pray his stock doesn't go up to high during the preseason.

 

He's bound to get most of the load IMO in the preseason.

[crackills 19]

handcuffing is a waste of space... that roster spot can be used on an up and coming wr or a 50/50 split rb. Many backup rbs also play special teams and can easily get hurt, not to mention lose their backup job to third string rb you've never heard of and since he is a backup, you will not find out about until game day.

prime example: Many drafted Morris as a backup to zeke only to find out that he somehow lost the #2 spot to mcfadden dur the season.

[TBayXXXVII 2,104]

I don't target any handcuffs... ever. If I get one, fine, but I never reach for him.

[weepaws 2,450]

Shame on those many people who targets the wrong Cowboys back up Rb.

 

Sounds like bad planing.

 

If I was to draft a Rb let's say named Lynch, I'm going too be thinking about backing him up with Richard.

 

It's not to target someone for say, but it's a good hedge for someone that I like but I'm not comfortable with him staying healthy.

 

Now anyone player on any play can go down, but going into any ff draft there are those that stand out in my mind as being less reliable to stay healthy.

 

So I think it could be a good move.

 

In one of my leagues last season, a person whom draft Langford also later in the draft picked up Howard, turn out for that person to be a good move.

[Ray_T 587]

Shame on those many people who targets the one Cowboys back up Rb.

 

Sounds like bad planing.

 

If I was to draft a Rb let's say named Lynch, I'm going too be thinking about backing him up with Richard.

 

It's not to target someone for say, but it's a good hedge for someone that I like but I'm not comfortable with him staying healthy.

 

Now anyone player on any play can go down, but going into any ff draft there are those that stand out in my mind as being less reliable to stay healthy.

 

So I think it could be a sold and a good move.

 

In one of my leagues last season, a person whom draft Langford also later in the draft picked up Howard, turn out for that person to be a good move.

And that would be why you do a handcuff.

 

Generally, I try not to draft RB's that would need a handcuff, but things barely ever turn out as planned.

 

if you end up grabbing a higher risk RB, I'd rather grab one that has a reasonably high upside backup that I can take in a later round (just in case)

 

it certainly makes it so you dont have to scramble in the event of an injury.

[ROCKFORD 134]

in dyno i like to target the entire relevent rb squad of a run first team. pitt, kc, min etc.

 

that why when that team drafts an rb, i target him and select him above his adp.

 

i know i lose a little value there but i feel safer.

[seafoam1 1,878]

in dyno i like to target the entire relevent rb squad of a run first team. pitt, kc, min etc.

 

that why when that team drafts an rb, i target him and select him above his adp.

 

i know i lose a little value there but i feel safer.

im all in on that too. we have up to 4 years keeper un my league and i have been doing this for a while successfully....

[jaxjag 43]

I'm with BobSanders on this one. Handcuffing limits the upside of your draft. I don't mind taking a flier on Darren McFadden late in a draft but don't feel compelled to do so if I already have Zeke on my roster. I'd rather take a stab at say Thomas Rawls, James Connor or DeAndre Washington, etc in hopes of having two productive RBs (Zeke and flier RB) instead of one (Zeke or McFadden).

 

The flip side is that one starter is better than none. Give me McFadden to back up Zeke on a team with a great offensive line. There are other run oriented teams worth handcuffing, such as KC. Also important is confidence that the "cuff" can play a little too..

 

In other situations, I don't like the handcuff strategy.

[murf74 461]

Mack is someone I'm truly going to target, I just pray his stock doesn't go up to high during the preseason.

 

He's bound to get most of the load IMO in the preseason.

Turbin

[weepaws 2,450]

Turbin did indee have some good stats last season, especially when used in spot duty.

 

But I'm not so sure that if Gore went down that he would be a true rb1.

 

It would be a RBBC, until the Mack train started to roll.

[Ray_T 587]

Turbin

I dont know. Every year Turbin looks great in camp. They hype comes and then the regular season comes and..... crickets.

 

I'm not sold on Turbin being anything other than a change of pace guy.

 

If Gore gets hurt Turbin will be the change of pace guy for Mack (unless Mack proves he cant get it done)

[ralphster 274]

Turbin quietly had 8 TDs last year spelling Gore (at 3.5 ypc). Caught 26 balls on 35 targets. He's who I think would have the 1st shot to claim the role if Gore goes down.

 

Mack certianly brings big play potential to the table, but he constantly tries to bounce runs outside and runs with little power despite his frame.

 

The real story w the Colts is that oline. They did nothing to improve it in the offseason.

[Ray_T 587]

Turbin quietly had 8 TDs last year spelling Gore (at 3.5 ypc). Caught 26 balls on 35 targets. He's who I think would have the 1st shot to claim the role if Gore goes down.

 

Mack certianly brings big play potential to the table, but he constantly tries to bounce runs outside and runs with little power despite his frame.

 

The real story w the Colts is that oline. They did nothing to improve it in the offseason.

Yeah, they drafted a tackle in round 4. I think his name is Banner, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

 

but from what I remember, he's a run specialist, and the pass blocking may not be good enough to get him on the field this year, so the help (if any) will be lacking.

[Hawkeye21 1,847]

I've never been a fan or drafting handcuffs. Any year that I've ever done it I've always ended up dropping them. Right now the only guy I can think of grabbing is McFadden to go with Elliott.

[Kent 228]

Depends on how the draft goes and how many rounds your league uses if you value handcuffs.

 

For example, if I've only taken a few legit volume starters at RB While loading up on the other positions, I'm taking a handcuff because then I'm locked in for the year and happy to never start the handcuff.

 

The years I don't handcuff I've taken a bunch of RBs all draft long.

[weepaws 2,450]

I've drafted handcuffs before, and sometimes it has paid off but most of the time it don't seem too.

 

Now I never target handcuffs but like Kent said it just depends on how the draft comes around.

 

But it's not an ideal situation.

[Ace08 11]

Mack is someone I'm truly going to target, I just pray his stock doesn't go up to high during the preseason.

 

He's bound to get most of the load IMO in the preseason.

 

I've been thinking about this situation all offseason, and while I agree Gore is a definitely a guy who merits a handcuff....I'm still not 100% sure that for this upcoming season Mack is the guy you want.

 

I'd keep my eye on Turbin. He had good moments last year. I need to see more before I'm convinced Mack is the immediate hear apparent.

[Ray_T 587]

 

I've been thinking about this situation all offseason, and while I agree Gore is a definitely a guy who merits a handcuff....I'm still not 100% sure that for this upcoming season Mack is the guy you want.

 

I'd keep my eye on Turbin. He had good moments last year. I need to see more before I'm convinced Mack is the immediate hear apparent.

Well, that's what pre season is for. Obviously if Mack does not look good, it's tough to bet on him being the handcuff. But in the end, I think he was drafted to be the heir apparent.

 

Whether it turns out that way (or not) remains to be seen.

[weepaws 2,450]

I'm convinced that Mack is the better player.

 

But I agree, we will see this preseason.

[Maulers1973 117]

I've been saying this for years. I don't take a handcuff just for the sake of taking a handcuff. I take the next best available option. If the next best player available happens to be my RB1 backup then that's fine. However, if the next best guy is a starting RB on another team, then that's the guy I'll take.

[DrG 94]

I still believe in backing up a true rb1 if the cuff would step in and get the lions share of the work. There are only a few rbs for whom that would make sense

[Ray_T 587]

I've been saying this for years. I don't take a handcuff just for the sake of taking a handcuff. I take the next best available option. If the next best player available happens to be my RB1 backup then that's fine. However, if the next best guy is a starting RB on another team, then that's the guy I'll take.

I think it's generally a good rule that a starter (even a low end starter) is usually better to own than a backup.

 

If you have to pay a high price for a handcuff, then it defeats the purpose of getting a handcuff.

 

A handcuff is a low cost, late round (or late auction) player you can get on the cheap to protect you against an injury to one of your starters.

 

the key word would be cheap.

 

If I have David Johnston (and I do in some of my leagues) I am not gonna pay a high price for CJ2K no matter how much I like him.

 

he's someone I grab in the last or second last round of the draft or (if someone else gets him) I wait to grab him from the wire when bye weeks and injuries take their toll on everyones roster.

 

If I need to pay a 4th or 5th round pick for him, I'll look elsewhere for a RB thank you very much.

[weepaws 2,450]

If I had to draft M Lynch this season, I'm going to target J Richard.

[Hawkeye21 1,847]

If I had to draft M Lynch this season, I'm going to target J Richard.

 

That's not a bad one as Richard can be had very late or picked up off waivers. I think Jonathan Williams is a good handcuff for McCoy as he can be had very late as well.

[weepaws 2,450]

Would agree with you about J Williams.