Whenever you hear the term “handcuff” in fantasy football, the immediate position that’s thought of is the running back position. It’s a fairly simple thought process in that there’s a starting running back and if anything were to happen, the next player on the depth chart would take over.
However, it does exist with wide receiver, just slightly differently.
See, there can be several wide receivers on the field at the same time, but still, there are some players that could see significant increases in snaps that could lead to fantasy football value should anything happen to the top receiver(s) on that team.
Below, I’ll list three wide receiver handcuffs to either look toward drafting or keep your eye on on the waiver wire.
Let’s check them out.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
3 Wide Receiver Handcuffs (2025 Fantasy Baseball)
Isaac TeSlaa (WR – DET) | ADP: WR70
There’s always that one rookie each year that I cannot stop raving about, and in 2025, that’s TeSlaa.
Standing nearly 6’4″ and 214 pounds, TeSlaa profiles as an outside receiver, but over three preseason games, he’s taken snaps out of the slot, too.
Right now, TeSlaa is behind Tim Patrick as an outside receiver, but of course, there’s Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown who will demand targets, too.
However, if TeSlaa gets starting snap numbers, be it via injury or overtaking Patrick, he could be a valuable player to have on your team in this Lions offense.
Over the last two preseason games, TeSlaa has caught six passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns, catching a touchdown in each game.
Not only does TeSlaa have excellent height and weight percentile-wise, but he ran a great 40 for his size, coming in with a 4.43 (74th percentile).
In 2024, with Arkansas, TeSlaa averaged 19.5 yards per catch.
I’ll be waiting for him to get more action as the season goes on.
Jalen Royals (WR – KC) | ADP: WR79
The Chiefs’ wide receiver situation has been a bit chaotic the last few seasons, and 2025 is no exception. That could mean Royals has a potential opening.
Here’s what they currently have:
- Rashee Rice: Likely to be suspended for an extended time this season.
- Hollywood Brown: Played two games with the Chiefs last season due to injury.
- Xavier Worthy: Solid season, catching 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. Nearly 69% of his targets came behind the line of scrimmage or 0-9 yards downfield.
- JuJu Smith-Schuster: Caught 18 passes with the team last season.
- Nikko Remigio: Special teams mostly; caught just two passes in 2024.
So, there’s room for targets here. The only problem, though, is that Royals is behind Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy on the depth chart.
Should Worthy miss time or Hollywood Brown, who was injured last season, also miss time, Royals could find himself in the starting lineup.
In seven games last season, Royals caught 44 passes for 839 yards and six touchdowns with Utah State. In 2023, he caught 67 passes for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He was productive in college, ran great routes, and could be an excellent option if he sees some run.
John Metchie III (WR – PHI) | ADP: WR146
If it were possible to be something more than free, Metchie III would be it.
Coming into the NFL out of Alabama, Metchie III was viewed as a great prospect, going 44th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, Metchie III was diagnosed with leukemia before his rookie season. He returned to the field in 2023.
Over the last two seasons, Metchie III didn’t see the field much with the Texans, catching 40 passes for 412 yards and one touchdown.
Since then, though, Metchie III has been traded to the Eagles.
Of course, the Eagles have plenty of options, including wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert, running back Saquon Barkley, and quarterback Jalen Hurts, who runs plenty.
However, Metchie III is behind Jahan Dotson on the depth chart and will be used as an outside receiver. So, if anything were to happen to Dotson or Brown, Metchie III could see his role expand.
Now, a few seasons removed from dealing with cancer, I have faith Metchie III would be a solid receiver if given more run.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn