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What is a handcuff?

A handcuff in fantasy football refers to drafting the direct backup to a player already on your roster, most commonly at the running back position. This strategy is popular because if the starter goes down with an injury, the backup often slides right into a heavy workload and inherits much of the same fantasy value. In deeper formats or two-quarterback leagues, managers may also choose to handcuff quarterbacks, since replacement options on the waiver wire can be scarce. Wide receivers, on the other hand, are rarely handcuffed because their production is typically distributed across multiple players rather than funneled to one clear backup.

What to think about when drafting a handcuff

When considering whether to handcuff a player in best ball, there are several key factors to keep in mind. First, handcuffing generally only makes sense with your top draft picks—the cornerstone players whose injury would drastically change your roster. There’s no real need to handcuff a secondary running back you grabbed in the 7th round of a committee situation. Second, you want to make sure that any handcuff you draft actually has the talent to contribute if given the opportunity. Every starter in the league technically has a backup, but not all backups are created equal. Lastly, you need to evaluate the offensive environment. If the starter in question is only seeing 10–12 carries a game, then burning a pick on their backup likely isn’t worth it, since even in the event of an injury, the workload may not be significant enough to provide meaningful fantasy production.

When to pull the trigger

If you find yourself in the later rounds of your draft and notice that some of the top running backs’ backups are still on the board, it can be well worth the gamble to scoop one up. Remember, in best ball there’s no waiver wire to fall back on, so securing potential injury replacements during the draft is your only shot. While it doesn’t make sense to load up on every backup, all it takes is one play for a second-stringer to suddenly step into a massive role on a top rushing offense. If a clear-cut backup for a strong ground game is still sitting there after Round 15, that’s the perfect time to strike. And if that backup happens to be tied to a running back you already roster, it might even be worth reaching a round or two earlier to lock them in.

 

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