To Handcuff or Not To Handcuff: Answering the Fantasy Question About Backup RBs

By Football Jabber Contributer T.D. Hill

To Handcuff or Not to Handcuff. That’s the Question.

Ah, the art of handcuffing. Or shall I say: the forgotten art. It’s astounding how many mockers are neglecting the selections of handcuffs for their most prized possession: the RB1.

Now, it’s not a must that you handcuff everybody. You just need to handcuff the guys that have the talent to step in and provide at least 75 percent of the production your top line RB was giving you. That’s the rule I have in handcuffing.

And in the era of RBBC (Running Back By Committees), handcuffing can come quite expensive depending on the rounds your potential handcuff is currently being drafted. Some “handcuffs” actually have stand alone value which drives up their ADP.

Still, so far while mocking; it’s astounding how little mockers are paying attention to this still seemingly important draft strategy. Let’s take a look at the 12 RB1’s and what it will take to nab their handcuffs:

Adrian Peterson ADP 1.01 – HANDCUFF: Chester Taylor ADP 10.03

For two years now, Chester has proved to be a very necessary handcuff for AP owners. With a current ADP in the 10th round (or ninth at the turn), he’s very affordable. This is actually ideal ADP for Chester as he’d take the spot of your RB4 at this point in the draft.

I much rather have him if I owned Peterson other than similar backs at that spot of the draft like Leon Washington or Tim Hightower

Maurice Jones-Drew ADP 1.02 – HANDCUFF: none

Chester Taylor above proved a perfect example for when to handcuff. MJD’s backups prove the opposite. If MJD were to go down, it’s highly doubtful Jack Del Rio would turn over the reigns to rookie Rashard Jennings. Even if he did, Jennings wouldn’t prove nearly as valuable as I’m sure Greg Jones would most likely take over goal line duties.

Taking that into consideration, the 75 percent production rule does not apply. But go ahead and take Jennings on a flier at the end of your draft just in case.

Michael Turner ADP 1.03 – HANDCUFF: Jerious Norwood ADP 12.02

I don’t believe Norwood is a must handcuff for Turner in the least bit, but with an ADP in the 12th round, I’d take a flier on him over a fifth receiver if I had Turner.

Matt Forte ADP 1.04 – HANDCUFF: Kevin Jones ADP 14.02

While I don’t buy the hype that Kevin Jones will be cutting into Forte’s workload too much, the early positive camp reports on Jones have elevated his handcuff status immensely. If Forte were to breakdown, I now believe Kevin Jones could step in and provide that 75 percent production level.

And with a current ADP in the second to last round, you must grab him.

Steven Jackson ADP 1.06 – HANDCUFF: none

If you’re taking SJAX in the first round, you know very well the potential for injury so I’m assuming that you are leaning toward running backs in the middle to late rounds anyhow, so building depth there makes way more sense than even thinking about rostering Antonio Pittman.

LaDanian Tomlinson ADP 1.07 – HANDCUFF: Darren Sproles ADP 8.05

Sproles definitely follows the 75 percent rule and his eighth round ADP might look high, but at this point in the draft you’d ideally already have a QB, three WR’s and three RB’s so taking Sproles in the eighth over a backup QB, a fourth WR or a TE makes sense. If you waited this long for a TE, you might as well wait a little longer.

Chris Johnson ADP 1.09 – HANDCUFF: LenDale White ADP 6.07

Spending a sixth rounder for LenDale is not even a possibility if you take Chris Johnson as your RB1. White has stand alone value being the TD vulture that he is so you’re just going to have to live without him.

However, keep an eye on him as he doesn’t have many fans and could be overlooked in your draft. If he falls to the 8th, I’d take him without hesitation.

Steve Slaton ADP 1.10 – HANDCUFF: none

Undrafted rookie Arian Foster is getting a lot of camp hype and Chris Brown is nestled in at second on the depth chart and even Jeremiah Johnson could see some work, so handcuffing Slaton is just not a viable option

DeAngelo Williams ADP 1.12 – HANDCUFF: Jonathan Stewart ADP 6.01

Stewart has been going has high as the fifth round in mocks, which obviously doesn’t make him a handcuff candidate for DWill owners. Stewart still has high expectations so the chances of him slipping in your drafts are very unlikely.

Frank Gore ADP 2.01 – HANDCUFF: none

If Gore goes down, so do the 49ers.

Brian Westbrook ADP 2.05 – HANDCUFF: LeSean McCoy ADP 8.06

Perhaps it’s because he’s being selected in the second round, and in some cases as a RB2, but the amount of people passing on the opportunity to handcuff rookie LeSean McCoy to Westy in the eighth round is surprising.

Correll Buckhalter proved that he could step right into Westy’s shoes last season and even though McCoy is a rookie, the reports are extremely positive that he could do the same.

Brandon Jacobs ADP 2.05 – HANDCUFF: Ahmad Bradshaw ADP 9.07

Last season as Brandon Jacobs sidekick, Derrick Ward finished as a RB23 in standard leagues. Bradshaw as Jacobs new sidekick is currently being selected as the 47th RB. You do the math.

I realize handcuffing second round running backs may not be ideal but after taking a look at that Bradshaw’s ADP and what he could do if Jacobs were to go down, how could you not?

Average Draft Position Data from FantasyFootballCalculator.com

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