NEWSLETTER
It’s fantasy football season and you are figuring out who you want to draft, planning your lineup, and more for the NFL season. You’ve heard the term before but what are fantasy football handcuffs? Here’s what you need to know about fantasy football running back handcuffs, backup running backs, and more.
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Fantasy Football Handcuffs
A fantasy handcuff is referring to a backup player who would take over for a team’s starter in the event of any missed time due to an injury or other reasons. Handcuffs are skill players and it’s common for fantasy football managers to seek out running backs.
Read More: How to Play Fantasy Football
Running Back Handcuffs
Running backs are the most common handcuffs in fantasy football because of the demand from the position. Fantasy managers will add an RB handcuff because starters can get injured due to the brutality of being a running back.
Figuring out who a handcuff is for the season is a process. It’s best to review the depth charts of all the 2024 NFL rosters and see who is slated in the backfield. Then, you need to examine which player will benefit most if the starter were to go down. You need to figure out which RB2 will become the feature back if the top guy goes out.
Examples of Fantasy Football Handcuffs
Judging who is a handcuff is not easy. It can be difficult to pick which running back doesn’t have standalone value and really only serves as a true backup to the starter that gets most of the touches. Here are a few examples of running backs that might be considered handcuffs in fantasy drafts for the 2024 season. As always, take the time to do extensive research before you commit to drafting a handcuff.
RB – Jerome Ford – Browns
Nick Chubb is elite when he plays but he played just 2 games last year due to a torn ACL. Ford filled in to run for over 800 yards and is a legitimate option if Chubb is dealing with injuries or not bouncing back immediately from injury.
RB Austin Ekeler – Commanders
Brian Robinson Jr. had 733 yards in 15 games last season and his backup this season will be Austin Ekeler. Ekeler can be used in a variety of ways out of the backfield and is a great pass catcher. He would be a good option to put up fantasy points if Robinson misses any games or isn’t getting great production.
RB Trey Benson – Cardinals
He might be a rookie, but Benson is playing with James Conner in Arizona. Conner has never played a full season and played 13 of 17 games in the past two seasons. He has a history of injuries which means Benson, a third-rounder in 2024, could see himself as a feature back if Conner goes down.
Handcuffs in Dynasty Leagues
In a re-draft league, you can likely find a handcuff on the waiver wire. For a dynasty league, managers can’t rely on the waiver wire because of the depth of the rosters. So for a dynasty league, you will likely have a handcuff on your roster at the running back position.
Read More: Dynasty League Explained
Wrap-Up: Finding the Right Option
As you can see, picking a true handcuff in fantasy sports can be difficult. These are some potential examples of handcuffs for the 2024 season but at the end of the day, you need to take a hard look at all the rosters. That will help you figure out if a potential handcuff is a backup or will split time with the lead running back.
We have seen that no running back is safe from injury or suspension. Players like Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara, Nick Chubb, and more have missed time at RB1 which has led to more carries for a backup. What handcuffs do you see exploding onto the scene in 2024 fantasy football?
Fantasy Football Handcuffs FAQs
What is a fantasy football handcuff?
A fantasy football handcuff is a player that will take over as the main starter if a particular skill player goes down to injury, suspension, etc.
What makes a good fantasy football handcuff?
A good fantasy handcuff is usually an NFL running back that will end up getting the bulk of carries if you see the starter gets hurt. They are truly a backup skill player and only will find their way into a starting role if the starter is out.
What position is the most common for handcuffs in fantasy leagues?
Running back is the most common and will dominate the handcuff rankings of fantasy football drafts. This is because running backs are most likely to get injured or miss time due to the demand of the position.
