The worst thing that can happen to you in fantasy football are injuries. Injuries aren't your fault yet they can take your team and tear it to shreads. Too often, people use injuries, suspensions or benchings as excuses to lose at fantasy football. How many times have you or one of your leaguemates said something along the lines of, "Well if (so and so) wouldn't have been hurt, I would have won it all!"? That's a losers lament if you ask me.
Well the only way to really protect your team from injuries or any other form of losing a player is to learn how to handcuff. If you ever want to become a consistent winning fantasy football player you absolutely have to learn how to invest in the situation and not necessarily the player. When you understand that the system produces these fantasy numbers, suddenly it doesn't matter anymore whether it is running back A or running back B carrying the rock.
I'm sure that you've heard of the practice of handcuffing RB's but did you know that you can also handcuff QB's, WR's and TE's? Now you probably shouldn't be handcuffing QB's in your 12 team home league but there are times when knowing which backup QB's are in the best spots will come in handy. Obviously, injuries happen to every position. Knowing which backups are in the most valuable positions will help you properly handcuff and insure your fantasy teams.
It is with this idea that we've created the official HANDCUFF REPORT. Everyday throughout the season (and preseason) we will be updating which backups have the most value in fantasy football. This information will help you in your draft, with waiver pickups and with who to start each and every week.
Here is the 2016 Fantasy Football Handcuff Report:
(Updated Week 13)
QUARTERBACKS
# | HANDCUFF | POSITION | TEAM | STARTER |
1 | Tony Romo | QB | Cowboys | Dak Prescott |
2 | Jimmy Garoppolo | QB | Patriots | Tom Brady |
3 | Paxton Lynch | QB | Broncos | Trevor Siemian |
4 | Matt Schaub | QB | Falcons | Matt Ryan |
5 | Mike Glennon | QB | Buccaneers | Jameis Winston |
6 | Nick Foles | QB | Chiefs | Alex Smith |
7 | Landry Jones | QB | Steelers | Ben Roethlisberger |
8 | Chase Daniel | QB | Eagles | Carson Wentz |
9 | Luke McCown | QB | Saints | Drew Brees |
10 | Derek Anderson | QB | Panthers | Cam Newton |
RUNNING BACKS
# | HANDCUFF | POSITION | TEAM | STARTER |
1 | Tevin Coleman | RB | Falcons | Devonta Freeman |
2 | Alfred Morris | RB | Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott |
3 | Derrick Henry | RB | Titans | DeMarco Murray |
4 | DeAngelo Williams | RB | Steelers | Le'Veon Bell |
5 | Charcandrick West | RB | Chiefs | Spencer Ware |
6 | Mike Gillislee | RB | Bills | LeSean McCoy |
7 | Kenyan Drake | RB | Dolphins | Jay Ajayi |
8 | Tim Hightower | RB | Saints | Mark Ingram |
9 | Kapri Bibbs | RB | Broncos | Devontae Booker |
10 | Andre Ellington | RB | Cardinals | David Johnson |
11 | Bilal Powell | RB | Jets | Matt Forte |
12 | Terrance West | RB | Ravens | Kenneth Dixon |
13 | Alex Collins | RB | Seahawks | Thomas Rawls |
14 | Jeremy Langford | RB | Bears | Jordan Howard |
15 | Dion Lewis | RB | Patriots | James White |
WIDE RECEIVERS
# | HANDCUFF | POSITION | TEAM | STARTER |
1 | Willie Snead | WR | Saints | Brandin Cooks |
2 | Malcolm Mitchell | WR | Patriots | Julian Edelman |
3 | Tyreek Hill | WR | Chiefs | Jeremy Maclin |
4 | Eli Rogers | WR | Steelers | Antonio Brown |
5 | Brandon Coleman | WR | Saints | Michael Thomas |
6 | Ty Montgomery | WR | Packers | Randall Cobb |
7 | Seth Roberts | WR | Raiders | Michael Crabtree |
8 | Breshad Perriman | WR | Ravens | Mike Wallace |
9 | Chester Rogers | WR | Colts | Donte Moncrief |
10 | Devin Funchess | WR | Panthers | Kelvin Benjamin |
11 | Brice Butler | WR | Cowboys | Dez Bryant |
12 | Tyler Lockett | WR | Seahawks | Doug Baldwin |
13 | Kamar Aiken | WR | Ravens | Steve Smith |
14 | Leonte Carroo | WR | Dolphins | DeVante Parker |
15 | Phillip Dorsett | WR | Colts | T.Y. Hilton |
TIGHT ENDS
# | HANDCUFF | POSITION | TEAM | STARTER |
1 | Martellus Bennett | TE | Patriots | Rob Gronkowski |
2 | Hunter Henry | TE | Chargers | Antonio Gates |
3 | Vernon Davis | TE | Redskins | Jordan Reed |
4 | Jack Doyle | TE | Colts | Dwayne Allen |
5 | Josh Hill | TE | Saints | Coby Fleener |
6 | Crockett Gillmore | TE | Ravens | Dennis Pitta |
7 | Brent Celek | TE | Eagles | Zach Ertz |
8 | Tyler Higbee | TE | Rams | Lance Kendricks |
9 | Seth DeValve | TE | Browns | Gary Barnidge |
10 | Richard Rodgers | TE | Packers | Jared Cook |