Jamaal Charles’ owners will want to be sure to also grab his handcuff, Knile Davis

Handcuffing your stud running back can be a double-edged sword. If you choose not to handcuff your stud and he goes down, you will lose a crucial piece to your fantasy team. If you handcuff your stud and he remains healthy, or if you handcuff with the wrong backup, you have now wasted a precious roster spot on someone who gives you no value. There are differing theories when it comes to handcuffing, and all should be considered on a draft by draft basis. Generally, if you draft a top-tier running back with an early pick, then there is no question you’ll want to draft his backup at some point. However, if you subscribe to the Zero RB theory, the waters become a little muddier because you are likely operating with players in a committee or even third-down passing backs. FantasyPros has compiled a list of running backs with their respective handcuffs as a great reference. Below are my three tiers of running back handcuffs.

Clear Cut Cuffs

• DeAngelo Williams – Steelers
  There is nothing attractive about Williams or Le’Veon Bell‘s looming suspension. Despite the guarantee of missed games, Bell is still a top 5 pick in current drafts. Owners who draft him have no choice but to grab his handcuff. I’m not particularly high on Williams, his age (32), his injury-riddled 2014 season, or his 4.2 career yards per carry, but if I draft Le’Veon in any format then I am forced to grab Williams as well. Just watch out for Dri Archer, who is an injury or poor training camp performance away from the starting job in Bell’s absence.

• Jeremy Langford – Bears
  When the Bears drafted Langford in the fourth round they sent a message to Ka’Deem Carey that he is not the heir apparent to the aging Matt Forte. Forte is a PPR beast and showed no signs of slowing down last season, but you have to protect your first or second round pick here. Langford averaged a respectable 5.1 yards per carry during his career at Michigan State and had no problem finding the end zone, scoring 40 touchdowns in his final two seasons. If Forte misses time, Langford appears to be the guy to step right in and take those reps.

• Knile Davis – Chiefs
  Jamaal Charles battled and played through multiple injuries last season, but when he was out the Chiefs’ running game did not miss a beat. When Charles went down early in Week 2 and missed Week 3, Davis filled in with an impressive 54 carries for 211 yards in those two weeks. When Charles returned in Week 4, they split carries with Charles getting 18 touches for 92 yards and Davis taking his 16 touches for 107 yards. He is a capable backup who has proven that he can carry the load if Charles were to miss any time. We can expect Davis to have a few opportunities to shine in 2015, and if Charles is your RB1, you better make sure to grab Davis before someone else in your league does.

• James Starks – Packers
  Eddie Lacy did not miss any games last season, but he certainly missed time. The Packers were curiously cautious with Lacy, not feeling comfortable giving him 20+ touches until Week 12, and only giving him 20+ touches on three occasions. I expect Green Bay to feed him more this season, but Starks will get his opportunities and currently has no competition on the depth chart for the No. 2 job. Starks’ 3.9 yards per carry may be subpar. But if Lacy misses a game or any time due to his asthma flareups, Starks is the only back who will be getting those handoffs and receptions from Aaron Rodgers.

• Cameron Artis-Payne – Panthers
  When Carolina shipped away De’Angelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart finally solidified himself as the every-down back for the Panthers. Stewart hasn’t exactly been the pillar of health in his career, and Carolina insured themselves by selecting Artis-Payne in the 5th round of this year’s draft. Stewart impressed over the final four weeks of the 2014 season, rushing 79 times for 261 yards, averaging over 5.0 yards per carry. He’s earned the starting job and his ADP continues to rise, but just as Carolina insured themselves with Artis-Payne, you will need to do the same if Jonathan Stewart is your RB1.

• Giovani Bernard – Bengals
  Jeremy Hill exploded when he was given the opportunity during Week 9 last season, and he ran away with Bernard’s job. No running back in the league rushed more efficiently or for more yards than Hill over the final eight games of the fantasy season. The Bengals could not give the job back to Bernard even if they wanted to. Hill was last season’s waiver wire gem who is now this season’s RB1 for whoever drafts him. Bernard still has fantasy value in his own right, so if you are going to handcuff Hill be prepared to spend a high mid-round pick on Bernard.

Cuffs to Consider

• Alfred Blue/Chris Polk – Texans
  In the three games that Arian Foster missed last season, Blue toted the rock but only managed 100 yards once. Houston acquired LeSean McCoy‘s touchdown vulture Chris Polk this offseason, who could easily beat out Blue for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Owners must consider cuffing Foster, but with who will be up to them. Personally, I’ve got my money on Polk to not only win the backup job, but to continue his vulturing capabilities.

• Jerick McKinnon/Matt Asiata – Vikings
  Unless you live in some obscure cave then you already know Adrian Peterson is back with Minnesota (no, he was not traded to the Dallas Cowboys, despite the internet’s wishes). I’m not 100% sold on Peterson just running all over people for 2,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns, but regardless he is still a first-round fantasy pick. The decision on which you choose to handcuff Peterson with really comes down to what you prefer; receptions from McKinnon, or random three-touchdown games from Asiata.

• Montee Ball – Broncos
  C.J. Anderson has crept his way up in to 1st and 2nd rounds already this offseason. Fantasy owners tend to remember the last thing a player did, and Anderson dominated the Broncos’ backfield over the final five weeks of last season, turning 140 carries into 561 yards. He also proved to be a factor in the receiving game, going for 111 yards on 16 receptions. Gary Kubiak is Anderson’s new head coach, and we should see him feed him in the same manner as he did Arian Foster. Ball should be owned as well, but beware of Juwan Thompson, who has reportedly been impressing the coaching staff at OTAs.

• Ryan Mathews – Eagles
  Chip Kelly may have broken my heart when he lured DeMarco Murray away from the Cowboys, but he surely crushed fantasy owners who were hoping to ride Murray to another fantasy championship. There is no chance he will see the workload he saw, and Matthews (who was acquired before Murray) brought himself back to fantasy relevance in 2014. This is shaping up to be a committee, so proceed with caution if you choose to handcuff Murray with Matthews.

• Matt Jones – Redskins
  Last season, Alfred Morris saw career lows in carries (265), yards (1,074), yards per game (67.1), and yards per carry (4.1). Washington could have waited on a running back in this historically deep class, but they spent a third-round pick on Jones. He has the skill set to compliment Morris but also to fill the starting role if Morris were to miss any time.

Care not to Cuff

• Robert Turbin/Christine Michael – Seahawks
  Marshawn Lynch is indestructible and requires no analysis. Don’t waste the bench spot on Robert Turbin or Christine Michael.

• Fred Jackson/Anthony Dixon/Bryce Brown – Bills
  The change of scenery and run-happy head coach is great for McCoy’s value, but if he suffered an injury there will likely be a committee approach with Fred Jackson and Anthony Dixon. There may even possibly be a Bryce Brown sighting or two. I wouldn’t roster Jackson as a handcuff but rather a PPR flex with his ageless upside.

• David Johnson/Kerwynn Williams/Stepfan Taylor/Marion Grice – Cardinals
  When Andre Ellington was placed on injured reserve late last season, Bruce Arians split carries among Williams and Taylor, and gave Grice a few cracks. David Johnson has the most upside due to Williams and Taylor’s mediocrity, but I wouldn’t roster him as a handcuff to protect my fantasy team against an injury.

Check out all RB handcuffs here

If I spend a high pick on a running back I make every effort to also draft his “clear cut handcuff,” even if I have to slightly over-draft. Below the top-tier backs, I don’t see much sense in rostering a backup when I can have someone who is a factor in the game contributing to my team. If you miss your opportunity, consider grabbing the handcuff of a stud you don’t own. If an owner of a top-tier running back let’s their handcuff slip, draft them and reap the potential benefits.

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