FANTASY FOOTBALL DO I CUFF OR DO I FLUFF? (Top 5 RB Handcuffs)
FANTASY FOOTBALL
DO I CUFF OR DO I FLUFF?
(Top 5 RB Handcuffs)
By Muntradamus
BEAST DOME NATION.
Cuffing has been a focal point of Fantasy Football for probably the last decade. For those that do not know the term (handcuff), it is when you grab the direct backup to a player. In all cases Fantasy Football, the term handcuff is geared towards Runningbacks.
The NFL has changed a lot in the last two years compared to the last decade. Once upon a time, guys used to get 25-30 carries a game. They were pure workhorses, they would get on the cover of Madden, they would disappear forever with knees that make you grateful to be just a fan of the game.
Now the RB game is different. No longer do guys carry the rock 20x a game. Well some do, but nearly every team in the NFL has decided to move forward with a committee of guys that backup the starting RB. Meaning if your star RB goes down, two or three guys would come into play and all would be non-startable. However there are some valuable handcuffs and here are my Top 5 RBs I would handcuff. Otherwise, I would just Fluff my roster.
TOP 5 HANDCUFFS
KAREEM HUNT – CLE (Nick Chubb)
It is no surprise that Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is the best 1/2 punch in the NFL. Look at how dominant Nick Chubb was before Kareem Hunt was reinstated from his suspension! Wrote an entire article on it, and that buzz alone is keeping Chubb being over-drafted. If you decide to draft Nick Chubb, and you do not draft Kareem Hunt. You are asking for TROUBLE! Hunt could easily be a Top 5 RB in Fantasy Football if Chubb misses anytime at all.
While the price tag of Hunt could be a 5th or 6th Round Pick, you put yourself in that position by drafting Chubb in the 1st/2nd Round. So now PAY UP!
TONY POLLARD – DAL (Zeke Elliot)
The Cowboys have decided that Pollard is the guy to backup Zeke is anything were to go down. If anything were to go down and Zeke had to miss time, Pollard would be running behind arguably the best offensive line in the NFL. The Cowboys offense is going to be rolling this year, Pollard is an easy TD candidate for any game he plays when Zeke is not. Pollard does not cost much of a Draft Pick at all, and you must use it to make sure you do not have to go on a bidding ware in Free Agency or have to wait on the Waiver Wire.
LATAVIUS MURRAY – NO (Alvin Kamara)
Last season Latavius was a staple of the BEAST DOME Draft Guide with a very expensive 7th-8th Round Pick. So expensive. A guy who literally sat on the back of the bench and did nothing besides the occasional 23 yards rushing. However, he got two opportunities to start when Kamara was injured. How did Latavius do in those two starts?
Pure dominance. 200+ Rushing Yards. 14 Catches with nearly 100 Yards. 4 TDs! That is Fantasy Football MVP material. With Murray going in the 8th-10th Round this year, if you draft Kamara, lock up Murray!
ALEXANDER MATTISON – MIN (Cook)
Dalvin Cook is holding out, he will likely get paid. The Chargers could live without Melvin Gordon last season because Rivers could carry the team. The Steelers two years ago could live without Le’Veon Bell because of Roethlisberger. However the Vikings cannot depend on Kirk Cousins to get them into the playoffs.
Mattison does have talent, he has enough speed and power to be a fantasy threat. However much like Latavius, Mattison will sit on your bench and rot away a roster spot. However the one chance you have of using Mattison because Dalvin Cook is OUT. You are going to be glad you drafted him! Mattison will go at the very end of your draft, and you have yourself a poor man’s version of Latavius Murray.
No, you are not going to get those dominant numbers like Latavius. However you will have a solid RB2 who can fill the void if Dalvin Cook ever misses time.
KERRYON JOHNSON – DET (D’Andre Swift)
Two months later, the Fantasy World has caught up after a ton of positive reports from beat writers. Now Swift is being drafted ahead of Kerryon Johnson. That is a little insane in my opinion, and to be honest, Kerryon is probably the better RB to own the first half of the season. However here we are Swift is being Drafted around the 6th Round while Kerryon can be had in the 9th.
Kerryon gives you instant RB1 value if Swift misses time. In fact, Kerryon can even give you RB2 value the first couple of games until Swift really gets his groove. However Swift is a super freak who was created in a Madden Video game lab, so it will not take long. If you draft Swift, Kerryon with the strategy and draft Johnson as well!
GET MY FULL LIST OF MUST-DRAFT HANDCUFFS
BEAST FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT GUIDE
