How to handcuff your fantasy RBs

By Kyle Chrise  |   Wednesday, July 23, 2008  |  Comments( 7 )

Fantasy Football
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Your early round stud running backs are always just one injury away from becoming fantasy football flops. That's why wise owners handcuff their fantasy stars to their backups. But no one wants to spend a valuable draft pick on a benchwarmer. So how do you choose when to pick up some insurance for your starters? Here's a selected case-by-case breakdown.

Category 1: Slap those cuffs!

Adrian Peterson & Chester Taylor - Vikings

If you own Peterson, you'll want some insurance for such a high pick, and Taylor -- who had 1,100-plus total yards and seven touchdowns last season -- is a great choice as early as the seventh or eighth round. Taylor shouldn't be taken earlier than that because when Peterson's healthy, the former is only worth playing in a severe pinch. But if Peterson goes down, you'll be glad Taylor is on your bench.

Brandon Jacobs & Ahmad Bradshaw - Giants

Jacobs was limited to nine starts last season because of knee, ankle and hamstring injuries. When Bradshaw filled in, he was quick and powerful. If you draft Jacobs, Bradshaw is definitely worth stretching for. He's a smart pick as early as the seventh or eighth round.

Laurence Maroney & Sammy Morris - Patriots

Health issues have plagued Maroney in both of his NFL seasons. He suffered from a bum ankle and back his rookie year and missed three full games and parts of two others with a groin injury in 2007. Morris' season ended last year when he separated his sternum, but he was New England's most productive fantasy back before that happened. Maroney owners should do all they can to grab Morris as early as the eighth or ninth round.

Rudi Johnson & Kenny Watson - Bengals

Watson doesn't have exceptional speed, but when he filled in for Johnson last season, he racked up more than 1,100 yards. He could find himself promoted to starter, even if Johnson is healthy but struggles. If you take a chance on Johnson (who started only nine games last season), Watson should be a mandatory pick.

Category 2: Worth a roster spot

Clinton Portis & Ladell Betts - Redskins

What a difference a year makes. Betts' 1,154-yard performance in 2006 made him look like the new face of the Redskins' backfield. Instead, Portis reclaimed his starting spot last year with more than 1,600 total yards and 11 touchdowns; meanwhile, Betts had 10 or more carries in only two games in 2007. If you draft Portis, don't make Betts a priority; however, if he's there in the 14th or 15th round, Betts could be a good guy to grab.

Frank Gore & DeShaun Foster - 49ers

Gore is going to be the centerpiece of the 49ers' offense, so Foster only has value if Gore gets hurt. If Gore is the key to your fantasy team, pick up Foster in the final rounds, but don't expect him to be anything more than a last resort on your squad.

LaDainian Tomlinson & Jacob Hester - Chargers

Tomlinson is expected to be fully recovered from the MCL injury that hampered him during the playoffs last winter. It was his first significant injury as a pro. The Chargers drafted Hester, a former LSU star, in order to replace Michael Turner as the backup. Unless Tomlinson gets hurt again, Hester won't see much playing time. You'll need some insurance for your No. 1 pick, though, and grabbing Hester in the 15th round will give you a little piece of mind.

Willis McGahee & Ray Rice - Ravens

Baltimore drafted Rice in the second round to serve as McGahee's solid backup. This isn't a mandatory handcuff, but McGahee is often nicked up, and Rice probably won't be drafted in most leagues. If you own McGahee and don't know what to do with your final pick, Rice is worth a look.

Category 3: Be cautious

Willie Parker & Rashard Mendenhall - Steelers

Rookie Mendenhall, a first-rounder from Illinois, will have some worth even if Parker is healthy. He's perfect for red-zone work and the more time he has to learn the offense, the more touches he'll likely get. Parker is recovering from a broken leg, so there's a chance that he may have lost a step. By the end of the season, Mendenhall could get more and more looks, so it's not a bad idea to slap the cuffs on him. Just be careful not the stretch to far. If he's still there in the ninth or 10th, go for it.

Marion Barber & Felix Jones - Cowboys

Jones, a first-round rookie from Arkansas, is going to be overvalued in many drafts this year because many expect him to fill the role of ex-Cowboy Julius Jones. The difference between the two is that Felix Jones is an unproven rookie and Julius Jones averaged more than 1,000 yards rushing per season between 2005 and '06. It's going to take a good bit of time for Felix to get comfortable in the offense. Plus, Barber hasn't missed a game in the last two seasons. Don't draft Jones before the 10th round.

Reggie Bush & Pierre Thomas - Saints

McAllister is 29 years old and has had three knee surgeries, so try to stay away from him. Instead, wait until the final few rounds and pick up Pierre Thomas. If Bush gets hurt, odds are that Thomas, a second-year man who averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 2007, will get plenty of touches.

Michael Turner & Jerious Norwood - Falcons

At first glance, Norwood would seem like a good handcuff for Turner, who's never surpassed 80 carries in a season. But Atlanta's offensive line is lackluster and injury-prone. Don't slap the cuffs on Norwood unless you've run out of ideas in the final rounds of your draft. In fact, if you drafted Turner in the first place, you may already be out of ideas.

Category 4: Wait for waivers

Ryan Grant & Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn and Vernand Morency - Packers

The summer will determine who backs up Grant; for now, Jackson may have the edge, but he's not a superb blocker, so Wynn and Morency will get their chances. Pass on these guys during your draft, and take your chances on a free agent if Grant gets hurt.

Larry Johnson, Kolby Smith & Jamaal Charles - Chiefs

Smith was pretty good when Johnson went down last season, but he had problems hitting the hole at the line of scrimmage. Charles is a third-round pick who will push Smith for the backup role. Don't forget that the Chiefs' O-line continues to decline. On draft day, your best bet is probably to avoid these handcuffs. If Johnson gets injured this season, you'll probably find more value on your bench or in free agency.

Brian Westbrook & Correll Buckhalter, Lorenzo Booker & Tony Hunt - Eagles

Remember when Westbrook seemed to have weekly reservations on the injury list? It seems those days are in the past, though, as he missed only one game in each of his last two seasons. The problem with handcuffing someone to Westbrook is that it's not clear who will be backing him up. Do you want to use a draft pick on Buckhalter? He's missed three full seasons thanks to injuries in his seven years in the league. If you want to gamble, pick up the bruising Hunt in the very late rounds. However, the former Penn Stater won't see the field if he doesn't learn to pick up the blitz better.
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About Kyle Chrise

Like a modern-day Moses, Kyle was found drifting down the Monongahela River, wrapped in a Terrible Towel, next to what was then Three Rivers Stadium. Found and raised by the stadium's grounds crew, Chrise lived and breathed Steelers football. As a youngster, he earned the trust of new head coach...
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