Fantasy Football Handcuff RBs to Invest in Heading into Season's 2nd Half

Because the running back position has become so volatile in the fantasy football world, working the waiver wire to find the next relevant back is very important. However, with so much turnover at the position, roster spots are that much more valuable, meaning you may not be able to afford to keep a handcuff.

When given the choice between acquiring a player with potential—at any position, not just running back—and a handcuff, ditch the backup running back. For the most part, fantasy players seem to understand that handcuffs aren't that big a deal anymore, and a big part of that is because there aren't many you can clearly give that distinction because coaches have no problems with committees.

For instance, many asked about who to pick up between Kansas City Chiefs running backs Charcandrick West and Knile Davis after Jamaal Charles was lost to a torn ACL in Week 5.

While I favored West, I still expected it to be him barely leading a committee and a bad one at that. Others already had Davis, thinking he would be the handcuff to Charles. Handcuffs aren't worth much if they aren't any good, and whether it's West or Davis, neither can touch Charles' skills.

Does that mean handcuffs are nearing extinction?

They're not totally dead, but they're more like seasonal entities now. Training camp battles don't always end when Week 1 rolls around, so some supposed handcuffs are still trying to fight their way into the starting lineup. With the second half of the fantasy season getting underway, now is a much better time to grab handcuffs, even if the list isn't very long.

With six weeks of samples available, depth charts should be a little clearer with more separation between running backs. At this point, it's acknowledged that Buffalo Bills running back Karlos Williams is LeSean McCoy's backup. The same goes for DeAngelo Williams behind Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, especially after the way he opened the season in place of Bell.

What I've tried to do is highlight the best handcuff options to acquire for some legitimate security in the second half of the season. All seven of these players have proved themselves as either reliable backups or short-term producers this season. It makes more sense to have these players now, as opposed to early in the season when the answers weren't so clear.

Khiry Robinson

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The New Orleans Saints don't have much in terms of consistent, high-level performers, other than running back Mark Ingram. He has 307 yards and four touchdowns on 88 carries (3.5 yards per carry) but has also caught 27 of 30 targets for 230 yards as a receiver. Basically, he's the only Saint you can start with confidence on a weekly basis.

Ingram is a clear RB1, which gives you even more reason to insure him with Khiry Robinson. While Ingram is obviously leading the way, Robinson has contributed as a runner (38 carries, 148 yards, two touchdowns) and a receiver (14 receptions on 17 targets for 99 yards). Robinson's contributions through the air give him a boost since Ingram has also been so busy as a receiver.

Because Ingram has been such a valuable fantasy commodity, his absence would create a big hole in anyone's lineup, so grabbing a capable replacement who's been more than just a backup would be wise. C.J. Spiller isn't a serious threat to Robinson as the handcuff, but he could be worked in more as a receiver (15 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown).

Get Robinson to give yourself some peace of mind if Ingram is one of the cornerstones of your fantasy team. You should get a solid RB2 out of Robinson if he is called on to take over for any reason.

Thomas Rawls

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Coming into Week 7, the Seattle Seahawks were second in the league in rushing yards per game (137.8) and fourth with 173 rushing attempts. They boosted those numbers even more by racking up 176 rushing yards on 41 carries and were led by Marshawn Lynch's 122 yards on 27 carries in the victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Obviously, they rely heavily on the run no matter who is leading the way.

That was Lynch's second game back from a hamstring injury that severely limited him in Game 3 and then kept him out for the next two weeks. During that time, the Seahawks boosted the role of Thomas Rawls, who carried 40 times for 217 yards and a touchdown. That tells you not only do the Seahawks have an obvious backup for Lynch, but a game-tested player as well.

With Lynch performing like his old self once again, Rawls has likely become waiver-wire fodder unless you own Lynch, in which case Rawls should remain on those fantasy rosters. Other than veteran Fred Jackson, the Seahawks don't have anyone to challenge Rawls for playing time behind Lynch, so the clarity of his role in this backfield is quite obvious.

Tevin Coleman

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In 2014, the Atlanta Falcons were a poor running team, carrying just 372 times (27th) for 1,498 yards (24th). Their leading rusher was running back Steven Jackson, who totaled 707 yards on 190 carries (3.7 yards per carry) with six touchdowns.

In 2015, the Falcons are a top-five team in rushing attempts (177) and yards (780) in the first six weeks. Much of that comes on the back of Devonta Freeman, who's rushed for 505 yards on 106 carries with nine touchdowns.

Of course, Freeman wasn't the one who started the Falcons on this path. That distinction falls to rookie running back Tevin Coleman.

Back in Week 1, Coleman led the Falcons as the starter in the backfield following a preseason in which both he and Freeman dealt with hamstring injuries, with Coleman healing quicker and therefore earning the nod as the Week 1 starter. He racked up 80 yards on 20 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles in that victory. Unfortunately, Coleman broke ribs in Week 2 and ceded the starting job to Freeman.

As we know, Freeman has taken the league by storm since Coleman's injury, becoming the top fantasy running back and giving the Falcons a balance on offense they've lacked since Michael Turner was leading the way in the backfield. Because they are so invested in running the ball, owning Coleman has become more important if you have Freeman.

In addition to the heavy workload on the ground, Freeman has 32 receptions for 296 yards on 41 targets, which makes him the second-leading receiver behind Julio Jones. That's a massive role in this offense.

If you don't have him yet, the good news is there's likely not a big push to snatch him up unless you have Freeman. Coleman has played just 11 percent of the snaps in each of the two games since his return, with six carries for 43 yards and a fumble.

The Falcons should stick with what works. We know that's Freeman, but it's also a strong commitment to running the ball, which is why Coleman would be a very active part of the team's offense if Freeman got hurt. Of the players on this list, Coleman might have the best mix of talent and opportunity.

Karlos Williams

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It hasn't been a pretty season for the Buffalo Bills, as injuries have ravaged their offense with starters at running back, wide receiver and quarterback all going down over the first six weeks. That's given us a look at some of their important depth, like running back Karlos Williams.

The rookie has 226 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries with almost all of that production coming in games in which LeSean McCoy was active. McCoy sat with a hamstring injury in Week 4, and Williams had just 40 yards on 18 carries. But he added three receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he suffered a concussion in that game and hasn't played since.

McCoy made his return in Week 6, rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, although you have to wonder if he rushed back from the hamstring injury because of all the other injuries that happened in such a short time. Can McCoy hold up after carrying the ball 626 times with 80 receptions over the last two seasons?

The Bills have made it clear from the beginning of the season that they want to run the ball and they want to run it a lot. They enter Week 7 fifth in the league with 172 attempts and seventh with 125.3 rushing yards per game, so they have been executing with and without McCoy.

Obviously, the concussion is a major concern for Williams since he's been out the last two games and won’t play Sunday. However, the Bills don't have anyone else they can feel good about running the ball with besides McCoy and Williams. Running backs Dan Herron, Anthony Dixon and Cierre Wood have combined for 50 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown.

Because of the concussion, Williams finds himself on the chopping block for a lot of fantasy teams needing that roster spot to replace other injured players or for bye-week reinforcements. Snatch Williams up now and hope these concussion issues don't linger. Not only is he a clear handcuff for McCoy, but he's someone with some value independent of that role on a team with an active ground attack.

DeAngelo Williams

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To be honest, I thought many were overrating Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams coming into the year because of how important his role would be for the team with star running back Le'Veon Bell serving a two-game suspension to open the season. Just how good would a 32-year-old entering his 10th season be after averaging just 3.5 yards per carry in 2014?

Williams turned back the clock, opening the season with 127 yards on 21 carries (six yards per carry) in a loss to the New England Patriots. He rewarded his fantasy owners again in Week 2, with 77 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries in a win over the San Francisco 49ers. If you drafted Williams to replace Bell in your lineup, the only thing missing was the receptions (five for 20 yards), but that's nitpicking. 

Since Bell's return, Williams has just nine carries for 26 yards and has played just 22 snaps. That shouldn't come as a surprise, but at least the team knows it can fall back on Williams if Bell has to miss any more time. He's the clear handcuff on a team that's tied for 10th in rushing attempts and is eighth with 123.8 rushing yards per game coming into Week 7.

Because Bell is arguably the top fantasy back, handcuffing him becomes a lot more important at this point in the season, especially when you know Williams is capable of producing at a high level and there's no competition for that spot when the other options include Dri Archer and Jordan Todman.

Javorius "Buck" Allen

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The Baltimore Ravens are off to a terrible start at 1-5 with injuries all over, but especially on defense, which has cost them some valuable players. The offense has been able to muster about 24 points per game, and running back Justin Forsett has been one of the few bright spots after a slow start.

Forsett has 457 yards on 104 carries (4.4 yards per carry) with a touchdown. He's also chipped in 23 receptions on 32 targets for 129 yards through the air. Even with the early struggles, Forsett is seventh in total fantasy points among running backs in points per reception leagues.

When the Ravens placed running back Lorenzo Taliaferro on injured reserve before Week 6 with a foot injury, Buck Allen became the clear backup to Forsett. On the season, he's rushed for 137 yards on 30 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and has three receptions for 14 yards on six targets.

There has to be some concern with the 30-year-old Forsett's ability to stay on the field coming off career highs in virtually every statistical category last season, his first as a true lead back. He dealt with an ankle injury last week and was bothered by some knee issues down the stretch last season.

Through six weeks, the Ravens are 15th in rushing yards per game (111.2) and 14th with 158 attempts. If not for their poor defense, they'd likely rank higher in attempts, but sitting in the top half of the league indicates a fair commitment to the run.

Forsett is definitely a better player and an RB1, but if he were to go down, it's fair to say Allen would have RB2 potential in an offense that doesn't have a lot of options on the ground or through the air.

Targets provided by ESPN.com. Team statistics provided by NFL.com. Snap counts provided by ProFootballFocus.com.