RB handcuffs are a crucial evil in fantasy soccer. Working backs get harm (or wind up on the COVID checklist) far too usually to not have an insurance coverage coverage, particularly in the event that they had been one in every of your early-round picks. Realizing 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 accumulate 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 due to elevated enjoying time.
For example how essential handcuffs will 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 general working again in PPR codecs. McCaffrey homeowners who did not have Davis had been kicking themselves, as they misplaced the assumed No. 1 general decide for a lot of the yr and needed to attempt to piece collectively a alternative from different groups. Individuals who picked up Davis obtained a bargain-bin RB1. It might need been dangerous luck to lose McCaffrey for a lot of the season, however masking your self from an damage standpoint is simply good follow.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Final 2021 Cheat Sheet
As talked about above, you do not need to have a group’s beginning working again to see worth of their handcuff. In a league the place you draft Ezekiel Elliott and JK Dobbins, Tony Pollard and Gus Edwards are positively going to be extra enticing to you, however it is best to contemplate them even when you do not have Elliott and Dobbins. Even with out accidents to the starters, Edwards and Pollard might have flex values.
2021 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Working again | Vast receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Kicker | High 200
Some handcuffs current extra worth than others, so take that into consideration in your draft. Pollard and Edwards supply significantly extra upside than guys like Samaje Perine, Justin Jackson, or the mixture of Xavier Woods and Jake Funk. Simply as with beginning working 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.
2021 PPR FANTASY RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Working again | Vast receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Kicker | High 200
We have already seen the likes of Edwards, Pollard, Alexander Mattison, Latavius Murray, Marlon Mack, and Jamaal Williams flash when given a extra important function in an offense, in order that they’re among the many extra enticing handcuffs. Unknowns, reminiscent of Chuba Hubbard, Kenneth Gainwell, and Darrynton Evans are sometimes sitting on the waiver wire except it is a deep league. As at all times, monitor damage conditions and snap counts weekly, and be able to strike issues are trending within the mistaken path.
2021 FANTASY SLEEPERS:
Quarterback | Working again | Vast receiver | Tight finish | D/ST | Every group
2021 Fantasy RB Handcuffs
Workforce
Starter
Handcuff
Two-Deep
Arizona Cardinals
Chase Edmonds
James Conner
Committee
Atlanta Falcons
Mike Davis
Wayne Gallman
Cordarrelle Patterson
Baltimore Ravens
Gus Edwards
Ty’Son Williams
Committee
Buffalo Payments
D. Singletary/Z. Moss
Matt Breida
Committee
Carolina Panthers
Christian McCaffrey
Chuba Hubbard
Spencer Brown
Chicago Bears1
David Montgomery
Damien Williams
Khalil Herbert
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon
Samaje Perine
Trayveon Williams
Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb
Kareem Hunt
D’Ernest Johnson
Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott
Tony Pollard
Rico Dowdle
Denver Broncos
Melvin Gordon
Javonte Williams
Mike Boone
Detroit Lions
D’Andre Swift
Jamaal Williams
Jermar Jefferson
Inexperienced Bay Packers
Aaron Jones
AJ Dillon
Kylin Hill
Houston Texans
Phillip Lindsay
Mark Ingram
David Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor
Marlon Mack
Nyheim Hines
Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson
Carlos Hyde
Dare Ogunbowale
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Darrel Williams
Jerick McKinnon
Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs
Kenyan Drake
Committee
Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler
Justin Jackson
Joshua Kelley
Los Angeles Rams
Darrell Henderson
Sony Michel
Jake Funk
Miami Dolphins
Myles Gaskin
Malcolm Brown
Salvon Ahmed
Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Prepare dinner
Alexander Mattison
Kene Nwangwu
New England Patriots
Damien Harris
Rhamondre Stevenson
James White
New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara
Latavius Murray
Tony Jones Jr.
New York Giants
Saquon Barkley
Devontae Booker
Gary Brightwell
New York Jets
M. Carter/T. Coleman
Ty Johnson
La’Mical Perine
Philadelphia Eagles
Miles Sanders
Kenneth Gainwell
Boston Scott
Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris
Benny Snell Jr.
Kalen Ballage
San Francisco 49ers
Raheem Mostert
Trey Sermon
Elijah Mitchell
Seattle Seahawks
Chris Carson
Rashaad Penny
D. Dallas/T. Homer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
L. Fournette/R. Jones
Giovani Bernard
Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry
Darrynton Evans
Jeremy McNichols
Washington Soccer Workforce
Antonio Gibson
JD McKissic
Jaret Patterson
1 = Bears backup Tarik Cohen (knee) is out for at the very least the primary six weeks of the season. He would be the major receiver again when he returns.
