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A good running back is hard to find.
It's why the first round of most every Fantasy Football draft is compromised almost entirely of running backs and why, in more recent years, a frustrated few Fantasy owners have taken to punting at the position, not wanting to stake their season on something so precarious.
But if you're one of the normals who grabs one early, you'll want to protect your investment. And the safest, most cost-efficient way to do that is to draft his backup -- his handcuff, if you will.
Of course, it's not always worth it. Maybe his backup is terrible. Maybe he's still to be determined. Maybe he has no shot at every-down duty even if the starter goes down. Maybe he's of so little consequence to other Fantasy owners that you don't really need to devote a roster spot to him.
To handcuff or not to handcuff? That is the question, and this is the answer with all 32 running backs ranked according to necessity.
Let me explain. For our purposes, a team's primary running back is the one Fantasy owners are selecting first, not necessarily the one at the top of the depth chart, and in some cases, the secondary running back is pretty valuable himself. C.J. Spiller, for instance, is a player to draft regardless of whether or not you already own Mark Ingram, but because he's a big investment in his own right and his role probably wouldn't change much even if Ingram went down, drafting Spiller, as valuable as he is, isn't a necessity for Ingram owners.
Makes sense?
If I draft this team's primary running back, how hard should go after its secondary running back? That's the question I'm attempting to answer. Obviously, it's subject to interpretation, so please don't mistake this list for something objective. It's simply another tool to help with your decision-making on Draft Day.
1. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers (handcuff to Le'Veon Bell)
Because of the suspension and all, drafting Bell first overall (or second or third, whatever) kind of forces you to go the extra round for Williams if you don't want to begin the season 0-2. Hard to survive without your first-round pick, especially early in the season, when you haven't had weeks to accumulate talent around him, and we know Williams is talented enough to soften the blow.
2. Alfred Blue, Texans (handcuff to Arian Foster)
Blue is potentially a longer-term fill-in than Williams, but he also has more competent backups in Jonathan Grimes and Chris Polk, which is a threat to unproven player like him. Pairing Blue with Foster is one of my favorite ways to handle the flex spot this year, but because the initial investment in Foster is relatively low, missing out on Blue wouldn't be the end of the world.
3. Ryan Mathews, Eagles (handcuff to DeMarco Murray)
This one is more of a timeshare than a true handcuff situation, but Murray isn't known for his durability and is coming off a year when he had more carries than any running back since 2006. Of course, Mathews is pretty brittle himself and would probably still split carries even without Murray, but he would be the top dog in an explosive offense.
4. Darren McFadden, Cowboys (handcuff to Joseph Randle)
If you're going to invest in the star-making ability of the Cowboys' offensive line, don't go halfway with it. Either of Randle and McFadden could emerge as the feature back if one proves more adept than the other, and while McFadden obviously has years of disappointment to his name, again, that offensive line is a game-changer.
5. Tre Mason, Rams (handcuff to Todd Gurley)
Mason could still have a big role even after Gurley returns from a torn ACL, which is a nice bonus, but even with close to a full workload last year, he wasn't exactly-must start in Fantasy. And now he has a hamstring injury that could sideline him in Week 1. Otherwise, he'd be a serviceable stopgap if you pinned your hopes to Gurley.
6. Andre Williams, Giants (handcuff to Rashad Jennings)
Williams filled in for Jennings often enough last year to show he could be a viable contributor in Fantasy, and at age 30, Jennings isn't going to have an easier time staying on the field. Williams is kind of a plodder, but because the only alternative is pass-catching specialist Shane Vereen, the touches are all but assured if and when Jennings goes down.
7. Ronnie Hillman, Broncos (handcuff to C.J. Anderson)
The way Anderson closed out last season left no doubt who would enter 2015 as the Broncos' top running back, but Hillman looked like the savior before then with a couple 100-yard games. So we know he's capable, and with Montee Ball falling out of favor, he's the clear insurance policy in case Anderson comes back down to earth.
8. Giovani Bernard, Bengals (handcuff to Jeremy Hill)
Hill was kind of the Bengals' version of C.J. Anderson last year, leaving no doubt who was the better rusher once he got his opportunity to shine, but let's not forget Bernard was a borderline first-rounder at this time a year ago. He may profile better as a change-of-pace back, but he has enough big-play potential to make a major impact in Fantasy if Bernard goes down.
9. Knile Davis, Chiefs (handcuff to Jamaal Charles)
Davis proved his mettle with 318 rushing yards during a three-week stretch early last season when Charles was battling a sprained ankle and continued to spell the star rusher thereafter. He was so productive that you may have some competition for him in the late rounds, but if Charles goes down, you'll be glad you can trust in Davis to give you more or less the same production.
10. Jonas Gray, Patriots (handcuff to LeGarrette Blount)
Bill Belichick's zipped-lip policy extends to running back, and while he has always given Blount preferential treatment, he has never given him the workload of a full-time back, which presumably means he's still searching for one. Gray got that sort of workload in Week 11 last year, rushing 37 times for 201 yards, and will have a chance to reassert himself with Blount suspended for Week 1. Of course, you may end up dropping him if he doesn't.
11. Joique Bell, Lions (handcuff to Ameer Abdullah)
Bell is technically the Lions' top running back but isn't drafted as such in Fantasy because of all the carries he figures to lose to Abdullah, which is kind of the problem. The Lions clearly don't trust him as their everyday back, so whether or not Abdullah is there, his value doesn't change much. There's a reason you've heard the name Theo Riddick before.
12. C.J. Spiller, Saints (handcuff to Mark Ingram)
Spiller, like Joique Bell, is pretty valuable in his own right as an explosive player who should have a specialized role in an explosive offense. But that role likely won't be as a traditional ball carrier, which means if Ingram goes down, Spiller wouldn't necessarily inherit his touches. It's why Ingram owners may fare better grabbing Khiry Robinson late than paying top dollar for Spiller.
13. David Johnson, Cardinals (handcuff to Andre Ellington)
Johnson's stock would be higher if the Cardinals hadn't signed Chris Johnson a couple weeks ago, perhaps in response to coach Bruce Arian's growing frustration that he couldn't get the rookie on the field because of a hamstring injury. But David Johnson responded with a strong preseason debut and could even relegate the diminutive Ellington to a change-of-pace role if he keeps it up.
14. James Starks, Packers (handcuff to Eddie Lacy)
Starks has done a fine job whenever he has gotten a significant workload. What separates him from somebody like Knile Davis is perception more than anything else. Chances are he'll go undrafted if you don't take him as the Lacy owner, which makes him a lower priority here. But then, of course, if Lacy goes down, you'll have a fight on your hands.
15. David Cobb, Titans (handcuff to Bishop Sankey)
Truth is you probably shouldn't be drafting Sankey himself, so calling his backup a vital handcuff just wouldn't be accurate. Cobb is better served as a standalone pick for someone who passed up running backs early and now has to pray for rain at the position. He's a logical gamble in a he-can't-be-worse-than-Sankey sort of way, but he'll have to bide his time thanks to a calf injury.
16. Devonta Freeman, Falcons (handcuff to Tevin Coleman)
Did I get the names backward? Does it really matter? Neither Coleman nor Freeman has established himself when the games matter and neither has gotten a chance to establish himself this preseason because of injuries. So the danger is not only that they wind up in a committee but also that neither of them turns out to be any good.
17. Cameron Artis-Payne, Panthers (handcuff to Jonathan Stewart)
With DeAngelo Williams now in Pittsburgh, Artis-Payne has become the Panthers' backup sort of by default, and considering Jonathan Stewart has never been a bell cow before, it's a potentially critical role. Stewart is no stranger to injuries, of course, but he's suddenly a trusted Fantasy option now that he's no longer sharing carries. I'd feel better about him as a sleeper with an insurance policy in place.
18. Jerick McKinnon, Vikings (handcuff to Adrian Peterson)
Peterson is back and presumably refreshed after a year away from the game, but he's also 30 and ... just spent a year away from the game. You'd hate to get boxed out of the Vikings backfield after investing a first-round pick in it, so even though McKinnon likely wouldn't have the job all to himself if Peterson goes down, his big-play ability makes him a worthy handcuff.
19. Branden Oliver, Chargers (handcuff to Melvin Gordon)
Gordon obviously will have a chance to shoulder the load after the Chargers took him in the first round in April, but he has underwhelmed this preseason and, with rookies, you just never know. The one hesitation with Oliver is the presence of Danny Woodhead, but he's more of a specialist. Oliver kept the Chargers afloat without Ryan Mathews for much of last season.
20. Damien Williams, Dolphins (handcuff to Lamar Miller)
With Boise State standout Jay Ajayi now on the roster, Williams may not seem like an inspired choice to back up Miller, but the Dolphins can't stop raving about him. They've never viewed Miller as a 20-carries-per-game type and seem to prefer Williams as a pass-blocker, so it's not unthinkable those two could trade places at some point even without an injury.
21. Dan Herron, Colts (handcuff to Frank Gore)
Frank Gore is 32 and has a lot of mileage, which opens the door for all kinds of problems in his first year in Indianapolis. He's also not expected to share the ball much, which puts his handcuff in a great situation if and when one of those problems arises. But is it Herron or rookie Josh Robinson, who has impressed coaches in training camp?
22. Reggie Bush, 49ers (handcuff to Carlos Hyde)
After proving he could serve as a team's lead running back the previous three years, Bush reverted to change-of-pace duties last year and may not be able to shake the label a second time at age 30. So even though Hyde is entirely unproven, I suspect bush will still have to share the spotlight with someone else. He's like a poor man's C.J. Spiller.
23. Denard Robinson, Jaguars (handcuff to T.J. Yeldon)
The Jaguars drafted Yeldon to be their starter even though Robinson had that three-game stretch with 329 rushing yards last year. OK, so he faded soon afterward and wound up missing the last few weeks with a sprained foot, but he has shown he's at least capable in the role, which is more than anyone can say for Yeldon. Robinson is low-ceiling, but I could see a door opening for him.
24. Matt Jones, Redskins (handcuff to Alfred Morris)
With three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Morris' role appears to be as safe as it gets, but I could see how Jones' strong preseason showing might create some paranoia. Morris was Mike Shanahan's discovery, after all, not Jay Gruden's. If you're a better-safe-than-sorry type, Jones looks like the only viable alternative in Washington.
25. Robert Turbin, Seahawks (handcuff to Marshawn Lynch)
The name here could change if the Seahawks end up signing Fred Jackson as speculated, but the ranking probably wouldn't. Though Turbin has rarely gotten double-digit carries over the last three years, he has done nothing to suggest he wouldn't be a satisfactory fill-in for Lynch, and in an environment as stable as this one, you're betting on the infrastructure as much as anything else.
26. Duke Johnson, Browns (handcuff to Isaiah Crowell)
The Browns' situation is like the Falcons' except you can add a third name to the list: Terrance West. Granted, Johnson is probably the most exciting name for either team, but it's not like Crowell and West were bad last year. That's sort of the problem. You could invest three roster spots in this nightmare of a situation and still not get any Fantasy production out of it.
27. Roy Helu, Raiders (handcuff to Latavius Murray)
After an impressive all-around showing as a rookie in 2011, Helu has gotten pigeonholed as a pass-catching third-down back in the years since, so I have a hard time seeing him as anything else. I'm thinking the Raiders will, too. Murray has a lot to prove, but a running-back-by-committee scenario seems most likely if he doesn't pan out.
28. Javorius Allen, Ravens (handcuff to Justin Forsett)
Forsett recently said Allen, a rookie, reminds him of former teammate Arian Foster. Of course, he waited until his presumed backup, Lorenzo Taliaferro, was sidelined by a sprained knee to say it, so it may be a glass-half-full assessment. Allen has had a strong preseason, though, and can contribute as both a rusher and a receiver, so if he's needed before Taliaferro can return, he may not look back.
29. Charles Sims, Buccaneers (handcuff to Doug Martin)
The Buccaneers tried their best to move on from Martin last year, but they pinned their hopes to Sims, who turned out to be even worse. That dream appears to be over, especially with the renewed buzz surrounding Martin, but Sims would probably still get the first crack at replacing him if it came to that. I think the Buccaneers would eventually turn to Bobby Rainey, though.
30. Karlos Williams, Bills (handcuff to LeSean McCoy)
Part of what made the Bills' release of Fred Jackson so surprising is that they don't have a clear backup without him. Anthony Dixon had the most success in the limited chances he got last year, but neither he nor Bryce Brown deserves a bigger workload. Perhaps Williams, a rookie, will step up, but he hasn't seen much action after having an undisclosed procedure.
31. Jacquizz Rodgers, Bears (handcuff to Matt Forte)
We've seen enough from Rodgers by now to know what we're getting with him, and it's nothing close to what Forte can provide, so he's rightfully low on this list. In all likelihood, though, the Bears would pair the scatback with rookie Jeremy Langford, a power back, if something happened to Forte, making neither especially rosterable in the meantime.
32. Bilal Powell, Jets (handcuff to Chris Ivory)
The Jets have always valued Powell as a role player, which keeps him high on the depth chart, but he's not carrying the load if something happens to Ivory. Chances are Zac Stacy or Stevan Ridley (if he's healthy) would factor, but with so many players to consider and none of them especially good, I'd punt on this situation as an Ivory owner.
