Do you think RB handcuffs are a good investment? (1 Viewer)

[alscherer]

Hi all,

As an owner of MJD and AP over the last couple of yrs, I've often made a point to pick up their handcuffs.

Now I'm starting to question that strategy. Here's why:

1) With a handcuff, I've spent auction dollars/draft picks on guys that I really don't expect or want to play. If I reallocated those dollars/spots at the draft to the best available RB3, I'd have better depth.

2) A handcuff roster spot is effectively dead unless my star gets hurt;

3) I still need to get a guy for bye weeks;

4) Not only is the handcuff less talented than my star, I think it's likely his team's strategy will change once the star is out. For example, will Toby Gerhart really run as much as AP? Doubt it.

5) Am I likely to win a title with a guy like Toby Gerhart or Rashard Jennings. Maybe, but I'm likely going against the team that has Chris Johnson or Ray Rice (true RB1s).

What are your thoughts? Would I be better off just getting the best available/highest upside guys as backups and forgetting about the handcuff strategy?

 

[JohnnyU]

My opinion on RB handcuffs is pretty simple. If you have 22 or less roster size forget the handcuffs, because it's more important to be diversified as a team and take chances on high upside players. Roster sizes > 22 go ahead and handcuff, but only with those players that you would actually say yes to starting should the starter go down.

 

[Winky the tunnel ferret]

It's pretty simple. If the backup has a reasonable chance to get most of the starter's production then they're worth grabbing.

i.e the Denver backup during the Shannahan years.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

It depends

I drafted Buckhalter to cuff Moreno but I had Buckhalter near the top of my next tier of RB's anyway. I didn't draft Coffee for Gore though. All about the value of the players.

 

[Captain Hook]

Yours or Mine?

 

[kutta]

I don't understand the logic of saying a handcuff prevents you from having depth. I disagree with this.

I am not a fan of mediocre handcuffs, or even handcuffing a mediocre running back. But if you have one of the top 10 ish RB's, you know those guys are going to play and play pretty well, and the only way you are not going to start them is if they get hurt. Why draft a guy that may or may not play, when you can have the insurance that you will always be fielding a starting back who will get the majority of carries.

Again, I am not advocating handcuffs for borderline guys, but guys like:

Rice - McGahee (might be questionable based upon his ADP)

MJD - Jennings

ADP - Gehart

Gore - Coffee

are all guys that I believe the handcuff should be drafted for because they will be in your lineup every week, no matter what, unless an injury occurs, and their backups are capable guys who most likely would receive the majority of the carries if they are out.

 

[FUBAR]

I don't understand the logic of saying a handcuff prevents you from having depth. I disagree with this.I am not a fan of mediocre handcuffs, or even handcuffing a mediocre running back. But if you have one of the top 10 ish RB's, you know those guys are going to play and play pretty well, and the only way you are not going to start them is if they get hurt. Why draft a guy that may or may not play, when you can have the insurance that you will always be fielding a starting back who will get the majority of carries. Again, I am not advocating handcuffs for borderline guys, but guys like:Rice - McGahee (might be questionable based upon his ADP)MJD - JenningsADP - GehartGore - Coffeeare all guys that I believe the handcuff should be drafted for because they will be in your lineup every week, no matter what, unless an injury occurs, and their backups are capable guys who most likely would receive the majority of the carries if they are out.

I'm not sure I'd include Coffee in a dynasty as I suspect he won't be the #2 long. Otherwise your logic is very good. I've liked having LT's backup the last few years as I liked Turner and Sproles. In Dynasty I simply ask myself if the backup has the talent to perform either on a different team or on his current one. In a redraft it's much more situational. On some teams, it seems anyone could do well if given the chance.

 

[ratbast]

I like handcuffing my RB1. My main reasoning is that my RB1 will play unless he is hurt. If he is hurt I have a starter for the price of a handcuff and the chances are he is healthy. I have one RB slot locked up. The rest of my bench, 3-5 RBs, is competing for the RB2 slot or waiting to be traded. There is a chance that my handcuff doesnt play if my RB1 goes down if my RB2 and RB3 arent on a bye or injured, for example.

Disclaimer: I play in 2RB and 2WR no PPR where I carry 5-7 RBs and 4-5 WRs.

 

[Instinctive]

I would handcuff AD for sure, because I think Gerhart could be very productive. MJD even moreso, because I think on over half the teams in the league he could be the starter, and he'd be close to as productive as MJD, almost like you don't miss a beat.

I like to take Jennings even if I don't have MJD hehe.

Some guys you don't cuff---e.g. SJax because he has no real cuff and they wouldn't produce like him anyway. Or DWill because Stewart goes too high (now if you're starting both, different story)

 

[Alfredo Garcia]

My opinion on RB handcuffs is pretty simple. If you have 22 or less roster size forget the handcuffs, because it's more important to be diversified as a team and take chances on high upside players. Roster sizes > 22 go ahead and handcuff, but only with those players that you would actually say yes to starting should the starter go down.

It's pretty simple. If the backup has a reasonable chance to get most of the starter's production then they're worth grabbing.

 

[Bayhawks]

Hi all,As an owner of MJD and AP over the last couple of yrs, I've often made a point to pick up their handcuffs. Now I'm starting to question that strategy. Here's why:1) With a handcuff, I've spent auction dollars/draft picks on guys that I really don't expect or want to play. If I reallocated those dollars/spots at the draft to the best available RB3, I'd have better depth.2) A handcuff roster spot is effectively dead unless my star gets hurt;3) I still need to get a guy for bye weeks;4) Not only is the handcuff less talented than my star, I think it's likely his team's strategy will change once the star is out. For example, will Toby Gerhart really run as much as AP? Doubt it.5) Am I likely to win a title with a guy like Toby Gerhart or Rashard Jennings. Maybe, but I'm likely going against the team that has Chris Johnson or Ray Rice (true RB1s).What are your thoughts? Would I be better off just getting the best available/highest upside guys as backups and forgetting about the handcuff strategy?

It really depends, on several things.1) How talented is the back-up?LJ during the end of Priest Holmes' time would be an example. LJ offered the opportunity to draft/buy talent, as well as a handcuff. MJD during his first few years is another example (handcuff to Fred Taylor, very talented in his own right). Shaun Alexander as the handcuff to Ricky Watters, Turner as the handcuff to LT, etc.2) How much (or what round) will it cost you?I only play in auction leagues (don't dislike drafts, it has just worked out that way the last few years), and for most "hand-cuffs," you won't pay a significant price, and you wouldn't be able to get a viable RB3 for the cost of that handcuff. Their are some exceptions, obviously. Jonathan Stewart is going to cost more than other hand-cuffs, and you could probably get a viable RB3 for the price you'd pay for him. But to "handcuff" ADP with Gerhart, MJD with Jennings, or Chris Johnson with Ringer would cost you MUCH LESS than you'd have to pay for another, viable RB3.3) Will you play that hand-cuff, if the starting RB goes down?If the answer is yes, then you should consider the hand-cuff. If the answer is no, then you shouldn't. If I have Ringer as a hand-cuff to Chris Johnson, but I have Chris Wells or Jamaal Charles as my RB3, then I'd play them over Ringer. In that case, why waste a pick/auction money on Ringer?