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RB handcuffs are a needed evil in fantasy soccer. Working backs get damage (or wind up on the COVID record) far too typically to not have an insurance coverage coverage, particularly in the event that they had been one among your early-round picks. Figuring out a group’s depth chart and having a participant’s backup able to insert into your lineup is an effective way to maintain your group on observe. It is not a nasty thought to amass one or two handcuffs of backs who aren’t even in your group. You by no means know when a sleeper will emerge and vastly outproduce his 2021 preseason rating because of elevated taking part in time.
For example how necessary handcuffs could be, check out Christian McCaffrey and Mike Davis in 2020. McCaffrey suffered a number of accidents all through the season and performed simply three video games, opening the door for Davis to take over. In Weeks 3-16, Davis was the No. 6 total operating again in PPR codecs. McCaffrey homeowners who did not have Davis had been kicking themselves, as they misplaced the assumed No. 1 total decide for a lot of the yr and needed to attempt to piece collectively a substitute from different groups. Individuals who picked up Davis acquired a bargain-bin RB1. It might need been unhealthy luck to lose McCaffrey for a lot of the season, however protecting your self from an damage standpoint is simply sensible follow.
As talked about above, you do not have to have a group’s beginning operating again to see worth of their handcuff. In a league the place you draft Ezekiel Elliott and Miles Sanders, Tony Pollard and Kenneth Gainwell are undoubtedly going to be extra enticing to you, however it’s best to think about them even when you do not have Elliott and Sanders. Even with out accidents to the starters, Pollard and Gainwell might have flex values.
Some handcuffs current extra worth than others, so take that into consideration in your draft. Pollard and Gainwell supply significantly extra upside than guys like Samaje Perine and Salvon Ahmed. Simply as with beginning operating backs, the standard of the No. 2 RB issues, too, in addition to different elements, reminiscent of receiving skillset and red-zone acumen. You need not attain for the low-end handcuffs. They will be obtainable in the previous few rounds.
We have already seen the likes of Pollard, Alexander Mattison, and Jamaal Williams flash when given a extra vital position in an offense, in order that they’re among the many extra enticing handcuffs. Unknowns, reminiscent of Chuba Hubbard and Jeremy McNichols, are sometimes sitting on the waiver wire except it is a deep league. As all the time, monitor damage conditions and snap counts weekly, and be able to strike issues are trending within the flawed path.
2021 Fantasy RB Handcuffs
| Staff | Starter | Handcuff | Two-Deep |
| Arizona Cardinals | C. Edmonds/J. Conner | Jonathan Ward | Eno Benjamin |
| Atlanta Falcons | M. Davis/C. Patterson | Wayne Gallman | Committee |
| Baltimore Ravens | Latavius Murray | Le’Veon Bell | Devonta Freeman |
| Buffalo Payments | Zack Moss | Devin Singletary | Matt Breida |
| Carolina Panthers1 | Chuba Hubbard | Royce Freemman | Committee |
| Chicago Bears2 | Damien Williams | Khalil Herbert | Committee |
| Cincinnati Bengals3 | Samaje Perine | Chris Evans | Committee |
| Cleveland Browns | Nick Chubb | Kareem Hunt | D’Ernest Johnson |
| Dallas Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott | Tony Pollard | Corey Clement |
| Denver Broncos | M. Gordon/J. Williams | Damarea Crockett | Committee |
| Detroit Lions | J. Williams/D. Swift | Jermar Jefferson | Committee |
| Inexperienced Bay Packers | Aaron Jones | AJ Dillon | Kylin Hill |
| Houston Texans | Mark Ingram | P. Lindsay/D. Johnson | Committee |
| Indianapolis Colts | Jonathan Taylor | Nyheim Hines | Marlon Mack |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | James Robinson | Carlos Hyde | Dare Ogunbowale |
| Kansas Metropolis Chiefs | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Darrel Williams | Jerick McKinnon |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Josh Jacobs | Peyton Barber | Kenyan Drake |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Austin Ekeler | L. Rountree III/J. Jackson | Joshua Kelley |
| Los Angeles Rams | Darrell Henderson | Sony Michel | Jake Funk |
| Miami Dolphins | Malcolm Brown | Myles Gaskin | Salvon Ahmed |
| Minnesota Vikings | Dalvin Prepare dinner | Alexander Mattison | Ameer Abdullah |
| New England Patriots | Damien Harris | Brandon Bolden | J.J. Taylor |
| New Orleans Saints | Alvin Kamara | Tony Jones Jr. | Dwayne Washington |
| New York Giants | Saquon Barkley | Devontae Booker | Gary Brightwell |
| New York Jets | Michael Carter | T. Coleman/T. Johnson | La’Mical Perine |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Miles Sanders | Kenneth Gainwell | Boston Scott |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Najee Harris | Benny Snell Jr. | Kalen Ballage |
| San Francisco 49ers4 | Trey Sermon | Kyle Juszczyk | Jacques Patrick |
| Seattle Seahawks5 | Chris Carson | Alex Collins | D. Dallas/T. Homer |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Leonard Fournette | Ronald Jones | Giovani Bernard |
| Tennessee Titans6 | Derrick Henry | Jeremy McNichols | Khari Blasingame |
| Washington Soccer Staff | Antonio Gibson | J.D. McKissic | Jaret Patterson |
1 = Panthers starter Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) is predicted to be out till no less than Week 6. He would be the starter when he returns.
2 = Bears starter David Montgomery (knee) is predicted to be out till no less than Week 6. Backup Tarik Cohen (knee) is out for no less than the primary six weeks of the season. Montgomery will begin when wholesome, and Cohen would be the major receiving again when he returns.
3 = Bengals starter Joe Mixon (ankle) is “daily” and will miss Week 5. He would be the starter when he returns.
4 = 49ers backup JaMycal Hasty (ankle) is out till no less than Week 6. Backup Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) can be out till Week 7. Starter Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) is out till no less than Week 5. It is doubtless Mitchell will begin or be a major a part of a committee as soon as he returns. Hasty and Wilson are prone to return as backups.
5 = Seahawks backup Rashaad Penny (calf) is out till no less than Week 7. He’ll doubtless return to the first handcuff position when he comes again.
6 = Titans backup Darrynton Evans (knee) is out till no less than Week 5. It is unclear if he would be the major backup or third-stringer when he returns.
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