How Important Are Handcuffs
Was it wrong to put Joe Mixon as the feature image of our handcuff addition? Nope! Here’s why.
Handcuff players are so important, yet so overlooked, when drafting in fantasy leagues. The running back position lends itself to franchise players like David Johnson, LeVeon Bell and Ezekiel Elliott. These guys can carry your fantasy team on their back, but what happens when the injury bug strikes? Notice I said “when” and not “if”. The injury bug eventually gets everyone. Without a backup plan, it will ruin a season if it happens to be your franchise running back.
Here is the list of early projected starters and their handcuff along with where they should be drafted based on a 12 man, half point PPR league with 16 rounds. Remember, its early and things will change closer to September.
When To Draft Your Handcuff
| EXPECTED STARTER | HANDCUFF | TEAM | Target Round |
| Devonta Freeman | Tevin Coleman | Falcons | 4th |
| Latavius Murray | Dalvin Cook | Vikings | 6th |
| Mark Ingram | Adrian Peterson | Saints | 7th |
| Kenneth Dixon | Danny Woodhead | Ravens | 8th |
| Ameer Abdullah | Theo Riddick | Lions | 8th |
| DeMarco Murray | Derrick Henry | Titans | 9th |
| Jonathan Stewart | Christian McCaffrey | Panthers | 9th |
| Bilal Powell | Matt Forte | Jets | 9th |
| C.J. Anderson | Jamaal Charles | Broncos | 10th |
| Spencer Ware | Kareem Hunt | Chiefs | 11th |
| Eddie Lacy | CJ Prosise | Seahawks | 11th |
| Robert Kelley | Samaje Perine | Redskins | 11th |
| Jeremy Hill | Joe Mixon | Bengals | 12th |
| Isaiah Crowell | Duke Johnson | Browns | 12th |
| Mike Gillislee | Rex Burkhead | Patriots | 13th |
| Ezekiel Elliott | Darren McFadden | Cowboys | 14th |
| Ty Montgomery | Jamaal Williams | Packers | 14th |
| Frank Gore | Marlon Mack | Colts | 14th |
| Doug Martin | Jacquizz Rodgers | Buccaneers | 15th |
| LaGarrette Blount | Ryan Matthews | Eagles | 15th |
| Carlos Hyde | Tim Hightower | 49ers | 16th |
| LeSean McCoy | Jonathan Williams | Bills | 16th |
| Lamar Miller | D’Onta Foreman | Texans | 16th |
| Leonard Fournette | T.J. Yeldon | Jaguars | 16th |
| Jay Ajayi | Damien Williams | Dolphins | 16th |
| Marshawn Lynch | DeAndre Washington | Raiders | 16th |
| Le’Veon Bell | James Conner | Steelers | 16th |
| Paul Perkins | Wayne Gallman | Giants | – |
| David Johnson | T.J. Logan | Cardinals | – |
| Jordan Howard | Jeremy Langford | Bears | – |
| Melvin Gordon | Kenneth Farrow | Chargers | – |
| Todd Gurley | Malcolm Brown | Rams | – |
Please feel free to agree or disagree in the comments below.
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