It can be tricky to decide whether to handcuff or not to handcuff. Some call it a wasted roster spot, while others call it necessary insurance. I hope this article helps you to figure out if you should use this strategy or not.

First of all, if you don’t know, getting a handcuff is getting a backup player that should take over the starter’s job if they miss time for any reason. This may apply to quarterbacks in very deep leagues, but this is a strategy more often used for running backs. The reason for this is because running backs get injured very often and because the position is much more difficult to replace.

When to Handcuff

First of all, it only makes sense to handcuff if the backup is talented and likely to take nearly all the touches the starter would leave behind.

It can also make sense to handcuff when the other available options are running backs you’re unlikely to start anyway.

Example: Let’s say, I drafted Ezekiel Elliott with my 1st pick, J.K. Dobbins with my 2nd pick, then snagged Mike Davis in the 6th for depth and bye weeks. For further depth, I could later get guys like unexciting running backs like Chase Edmonds, Ronald Jones, or Damien Harris as my 7th pick. Or rather than using those picks for low-upside running backs, I I could grab startable WRs there. Then later, I can get Gus Edwards with my 9th pick and Tony Pollard with my 10th. I’d rather take Gus and Pollard over those other questionable backs because I’ll generally be happy when Zeke and Dobbins are playing, but if they go down, I’ll probably be quite happy with starting their handcuffs. However, I may never be happy starting Edmonds, Jones, or Harris, yet they cost more.

When not to Handcuff

There’s no point drafting a handcuff if they’re not likely to take all the snaps left by the starter.

It may also be best to avoid handcuffs to draft high-upside players if you have a weak team. There’s no point playing it safe if playing it safe means not winning.

It’s also not worth drafting handcuffs if you have a shallow bench. If you have 10 starters and 5 bench spots in a 12 team league, it’s better to leave the handcuffs on the waiver wire and hold startable assets instead.

Good Pairings

Another strategy is to grab pairs of running backs who could be startable in fantasy. This way, you’re not wasting a roster spot, but you also have the opportunity to have a breakout player if their teammate goes down.

Wrap-Up

I hope this article helps you as you figure out whether to handcuff or not to handcuff. In case you want examples, some handcuffs I’d target are Tony Pollard, Alexander Mattison, and Chuba Hubbard.

If you found this article helpful, check out other Belly Up Fantasy Sports articles at Belly Up Fantasy and you can follow me at @liuac.