Fantasy Football 2014: Top 9 Running Backs Owners Must Handcuff Before Playoffs

For most leagues, the 2014 fantasy football playoffs start in one week. It’s time to clear some bench space to handcuff the backups of the most critical starters. LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray and Frank Gore owners must pick up Chris Polk, Joseph Randle and Carlos Hyde, respectively, to solidify their playoff rosters.

A fantasy handcuff is the actual backup to an NFL starter. The term is usually associated with running backs, but the strategy of insuring a productive starter with his backup can be loosely applied at other positions.

It’s an important concept to embrace heading into the playoffs, presuming you have a strong starting roster. It’s far more beneficial to handcuff stars than speculate on sleepers or underperformers. Assuming those stars benefit from a dynamic offense, their backups create a stronger insurance policy than most unknowns taking meaningless late-season reps on a bad team.

Guidelines

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The players profiled on this list are available in at least 50 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Therefore, Alfred Blue (65.9) and Jonas Gray (63.2) do not apply because they are likely already taken in your league.

The player the handcuff backs up is also starting in at least 50 percent of ESPN leagues.

That excludes:

• Daniel Thomas behind Lamar Miller (48.9 percent started)
• Benny Cunningham behind Tre Mason (41.4)
• Bryce Brown/Anthony Dixon behind Fred Jackson (41.0)
• Ben Tate/Matt Asiata behind Jerick McKinnon (35.2)
• Theo Riddick behind Joique Bell (18.5)
• Charles Sims behind Doug Martin (13.3)
• Shonn Greene behind Bishop Sankey (13.2)

The nine players featured ahead aren’t part of committees where it’s difficult to discern who is No. 1 on a weekly basis, like these units:

• Jeremy Hill/Giovani Bernard
• Isaiah Crowell/Terrance West
• Shane Vereen/LeGarrette Blount/Jonas Gray
• Mark Ingram/Pierre Thomas
• Trent Richardson/Daniel Herron
• Jonathan Stewart/DeAngelo Williams
• Latavius Murray/Darren McFadden

Non-Running Back Handcuffs

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Fantasy football handcuffs are traditionally the reserves for featured running backs, but the concept can work at other positions as well.

Look to the third wide receiver in prolific passing offenses to ensure at least a semblance of comparable output if one of the top two goes down. Green Bay's Davante Adams, Arizona's John Brown, Denver's Wes Welker, Atlanta's Harry Douglas and Indianapolis' Hakeem Nicks are great examples.

This concept works for the backup tight end as well. New England's Tim Wright, Denver's Jacob Tamme, San Diego's Ladarius Green and Washington's Niles Paul are all worthy candidates.

Quarterback is the exception. The gap between starter and reserve is so great that the best insurance policy is a starter or two from different teams.

Honorable Mention

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Branden Oliver, San Diego Chargers

Oliver is one of the few names on this list that actually got a shot at his team’s top running back spot in 2014. He exploded off the bench with 47 points in Weeks 5 and 6, but sputtered for just 13 total the next three weeks. The 5’7”, 208-pound undrafted rookie out of Buffalo would probably split time with Donald Brown if Ryan Mathews suffered another injury.

Stepfan Taylor, Arizona Cardinals

Taylor might have relative value to Andre Ellington in the passing game given that he boasts two touchdowns on seven receptions to Ellington’s two on 46 catches. But he doesn’t warrant an automatic handcuff because even Ellington is struggling behind Arizona’s terrible run blocking—ranked 27th according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Taylor’s value is further eroded by the signing of Michael Bush this week.

Josh Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Harris—not Dri Archer—appears to be the rookie slated to take LeGarrette Blount’s vacated RB2 spot behind Le’Veon Bell. He’s an unknown commodity coming off the practice squad, so he’s not worthy of a handcuff until he proves himself on an NFL field.

Lorenzo Taliaferro, Baltimore Ravens

Taliaferro isn’t an automatic handcuff to Justin Forsett because offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak randomly benches him in favor of Bernard Pierce.

Chris Johnson, New York Jets

Johnson was brought in to complement Chris Ivory, but he currently ranks 46th out of 58 eligible running backs, according to PFF. There’s no reason to believe he’d be any more effective taking first-team snaps.

Roy Helu, Washington Redskins

Alfred Morris’ backup hasn’t carried the ball in two weeks. Helu is always a threat in the passing game—fourth among running backs with 375 receiving yards—but it’s hard to gauge how he’d do behind Washington’s shaky offensive line when he lacks carries.

Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta’s four-headed running back committee dropped to three when Antone Smith landed on injured reserve in Week 11. Steven Jackson still headlines the Falcons backfield, but at 31, his durability is always in question. Freeman could enjoy a strong finish to his rookie campaign if Atlanta’s offense can stay on track.

9. Robert Turbin, Seattle Seahawks

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Turbin would be ranked higher, except that his own team isn’t even confident he can replace Marshawn Lynch, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra):

"

Neither [Robert Turbin or Christine Michael] have turned into franchise backs. I would expect them to target a running back high in the draft. Pay attention to Melvin Gordon, who just set the national rushing record. He's from Wisconsin, [Seahawks GM] John Schneider [is] from Wisconsin.

"

Lynch—on pace for 320 touches, 1,671 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns—is struggling with various injuries, including back spasms, which kept out of the first two series against Arizona in Week 12.

"

Carroll on Lynch's back: "It’s always an issue. He always that tightness he has to get through, but he was sick. He might say different...

— Liz Mathews 710 ESPN (@Liz_Mathews) November 24, 2014

"

The drop in production from Lynch to Turbin would be significant, but at least he can run behind the league’s 11th-ranked run-blocking front, according to PFF.

But head coach Pete Carroll might decide to platoon Turbin and Michael, limiting both players’ fantasy value.

8. Juwan Thompson, Denver Broncos

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Thompson rates on the lower end of the top handcuffs because the undrafted rookie out of Duke is still an unproven NFL commodity.

The Broncos running back hierarchy is firm as long as Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman continue to rehab from groin and foot injuries, respectively. C.J. Anderson ascended from No. 3 to No. 1 and Thompson rose behind him accordingly.

Denver waived previous RB3 Kapri Bibbs in favor of journeyman Jeremy Stewart last week, and the roster turbulence behind Thompson only confirms his hold on the RB2 spot.

Anderson’s versatility in his first two career starts earned him a near-monopoly in Denver’s backfield. He saw 66 snaps in Week 11 at St. Louis, followed by 69 against Miami. Thompson saw the field for just 10 plays combined through the same stretch.

Anderson owners should add Thompson for Week 13, then revisit the situation next week. Thompson’s value plummets when Ball and/or Hillman return.

7. Ka’Deem Carey, Chicago Bears

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Matt Forte owners haven’t seen much of Carey since he anchored the final drive of Week 4's 38-17 blowout loss to the Packers.

The fourth-rounder out of Arizona carried the ball 14 times for 72 yards, season highs in both categories.

Chicago’s got the beefy offensive line—ranked fifth in run blocking, according to PFF—and a decent vertical passing game to keep defenses honest.

The reason Carey doesn’t rate higher on this list is because Forte is a multifaceted machine that hardly leaves the field. The 28-year-old leads all running backs in snaps with 744, per PFF. It’s difficult to evaluate a backup when the No. 1 stays in on 90 percent of the plays.

Forte is solid, missing just five starts in his seven-year career. Still, his owners would be wise to stash Carey—available in 98.6 percent of ESPN leagues—just in case.

6. James Starks, Green Bay Packers

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Eddie Lacy has delivered Green Bay the dual-threat offense Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers wanted, despite ranking 18th in run-blocking, according to PFF. He ranks second in PFF’s elusive rating, averaging 2.8 yards after contact.

Lacy’s 5’11”, 230-pound frame suits the workhorse role much better than Starks’ 6’2”, 218-pound body.

Still, Starks deserves more than his current 7.0 percent ownership due to Lacy’s concussion history and Green Bay’s streaking offense.

The Packers (8-3) demolish opponents with a 20.1-point average margin of victory. Green Bay outscored opponents by 21 points or more in five of those wins.

Starks is not only an essential handcuff for Lacy owners, but a sneaky garbage-time flex play with Atlanta, Buffalo and Tampa Bay scheduled in Weeks 14-16.

5. Knile Davis, Kansas City Chiefs

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Davis’ work this season behind Jamaal Charles is reminiscent of Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson’s one-two punch in the 2000s.

But Charles’ value this year is deceptive because of his 11 combined touchdowns, the second-best total among running backs. He’s on a 77.2 rushing yards per game pace, which would be a career low in a season with at least 200 carries.

Kansas City’s retooled offensive line is partially to blame—they rank 25th in run blocking, according to PFF.

Fantasy owners noticed Davis’ handcuff value early on when he gashed the Broncos and Dolphins in Weeks 2 and 3 for 237 total yards and three touchdowns. Charles suffered an ankle injury in the Denver game and didn’t return until Week 4 against New England.

Owners might recall Davis outperformed Charles in that blowout, averaging 7.0 yards per touch to Charles' 5.1. Charles overshadowed Davis with three combined touchdowns, however.  

Charles is over the hill in running back years at 27. Plus, his sleek 5’9”, 199-pound frame is vulnerable to punishment. But the reason Davis isn’t ranked higher on this list is because of the rest of the Chiefs offense.

Kansas City boasts the league’s fifth-best rushing attack but has the second-worst passing game. This is a lopsided unit that a good run-stuffing defense can stifle. The Chiefs face Denver, Arizona and Pittsburgh in three of the next four weeks—the sixth, second and 13th-best fantasy defenses in running back points allowed, respectively.

Charles owners should unquestionably handcuff Davis, but be aware that both are touchdown-dependant down the stretch.

4. Andre Williams, New York Giants

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Williams is another example of a backup who’s seen some starter's reps this season. He rates with the middle of the pack on this list because what we saw wasn’t spectacular.

The fourth-rounder out of Boston College has rushed 126 times for 372 yards compared to Rashad Jennings’ 128 carries for 507. Williams averages a full yard less per carry, 3.0 to 4.0.

He’s currently owned in 34 percent of ESPN leagues, the highest of any handcuff on this countdown. That’s partially due to the residual effect of four starts while Jennings nursed a knee injury. Williams’ red-zone productivity is also a factor.

Williams scored two of his five rushing touchdowns this year in relief of Jennings. In fact, he’s outrushed New York’s RB1 in the red zone 2.9 yards per carry on 24 attempts to 1.7 on 19 for Jennings, according to CBSSports.com. Williams doubled Jennings’ touchdowns—four to two—and protected the ball, as Jennings logged one red-zone fumble lost.

Williams’ ownership rate is headed in the wrong direction, down 5.3 percent over the last week.  Montee Ball (34.1) and Ronnie Hillman (38.1) are inexplicably owned at a higher rate.

Jennings is starting in 82.3 percent of ESPN leagues, a share Williams would probably match if Jennings goes down again. Williams will be a much more desirable waiver-wire prospect if you wait until after that possibility reoccurs.

3. Chris Polk, Philadelphia Eagles

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Philadelphia’s rushing attack is dangerous, anchored by the best run-blockers in football, according to PFF.  Even Mark Sanchez ran for 28 yards and a touchdown on Thanksgiving.

Polk also showed well on national TV, rushing a season-high 11 times for 49 yards in garbage time. The late workload confirmed Polk as LeSean McCoy’s backup, while Darren Sproles is exclusively used as a change-of-pace weapon.

Durability isn’t a factor for McCoy, 26, who hasn’t missed a start since Week 15 of 2012. But Polk still merits third place on this list thanks to Philadelphia’s potent offense and road-grading offensive line.

The undrafted third-year veteran from Washington is available in 98.5 percent of ESPN leagues. McCoy owners—99.9 percent owned—need to close that gap and carry Polk on their bench for the playoffs.

2. Joseph Randle, Dallas Cowboys

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Dallas’ revamped offensive line is the toast of the league, according to Sports Illustrated (subscription required). PFF ranks them fourth among run-blockers.

It’s no wonder DeMarco Murray is the top running back in the NFL.

Murray endured just his second sub-100-yard performance on Thanksgiving day (73 yards), due mostly to Philadelphia’s early lead en route to a 33-10 victory. He’s on pace to finish with 1,903 rushing yards, well within reach of 2,000 if Dallas is so inclined to ramp up his attempts.

The problem with chasing such a milestone is Murray is on pace for 384 carries. That would rate as the 14th-heaviest single-season workload in NFL history—a troubling total for a young back with a checkered injury history.

Randle—available in 95.1 percent of ESPN leagues—would be the top handcuff on this list if we could be certain he is the top handcuff in Dallas. He split carries with Lance Dunbar this week (two each) and trailed him in Week 9 (three to one).

Randle’s last definitive RB2 game for the Cowboys came in garbage time of an easy win at Jacksonville (31-17) in Week 10.

Dominating second-team carries in a clock-managing scenario is a positive development, and Randle should be handcuffed by Murray owners as a result. Just don’t get too complacent if Randle gets the call-up, because Dunbar could eat into his playing time.

1. Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers

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Hyde tops the list of widely available running back handcuffs for three reasons: Frank Gore’s age, San Francisco’s dominant running game and Hyde’s three-down potential.

Gore is 31 years old, defying the odds as a 30-plus-year-old running back dancing on the edge of the performance cliff, but not tumbling over. His 3.9 yards per carry marks the lowest average in his career, but it’s pretty much average among his contemporaries.

PFF ranks Gore tied for 30th in YPC among running backs involved in at least 25 percent of snaps in 2014. But the odds aren’t in Gore’s favor, which is why San Francisco spent a 2014 second-rounder on Hyde in the first place.

San Francisco boasts the third-ranked run-blocking unit, according to PFF. The Ohio State product’s prospects look quite palatable behind that wall of blockers.

Hyde’s four rushing touchdowns rank second behind only Davis and Williams on this list. His 3.7 YPC comes in slightly behind Gore, but he’s tied for 20th among running backs with 30 red-zone fantasy points, per CBSSports.com. Gore has scored only 12 as the 49ers secondary red-zone option.

If the 49ers trust Hyde to produce in those precious short-yardage situations, why wouldn’t he tote the rock full-time in the event of Gore’s absence?

Hyde’s owned in 17.3 percent of ESPN leagues, but he should be taken in every league whether or not you also own Gore. He’s a must-handcuff for Gore owners, but Hyde also makes a great wild card for the fantasy playoffs if he ascends to RB1.

Expect these nine players to see increased adds as successful owners fortify their playoff rosters. Don’t miss the chance to handcuff the “next man up” to your elite backfield before they merit increased demand.

All ranks and points are based on standard-scoring ESPN fantasy leagues unless otherwise noted.