Has the Handcuff Vanished (1 Viewer)

[The Rook]

I've never been one to take the handcuffing to extreme, but in the past it could be argued that handcuffing Ladanian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander was a viable strategy. Part of the justification was that it was such a solid running game that the backups could be plugged in and put up decent to good numbers.

As I look at this year, I think the handcuff has been completely eliminated. If Shaun Alexander is injured, would you want to plug in Maurice Morris? Bennett for LJ? Even Turner for LT? None of those studs have been extraordinary to date.

I think there are some other RB's that are coming into opportunity based on injury that have more value than handcuffs. Graham in TB. Fargas or Rhodes in Oakland.

In 2007 I think it's completely dead.

Others thougts on the handcuff?

 

[Max Power]

Selvin Young and Kenyon Keith are the only two I would handcuff this season.

 

[lsutigers]

Others thougts on the handcuff?

I'm always big on drafting RB backups in good situations late in the draft rather than handcuffing my guys. Worked for me this year with Sammy Morris (2nd to last round), not so much with Tony Hunt (last round).

 

[zamboni]

No way would I refrain from cuffing LT with Turner. Very surprised to see people say Turner is doing poorly on only 17 carries. Granted his YPC isn't great, but neither is LT's. I doubt perceptions of Turner have changed at all among NFL GMs across the league.

 

[OU#1]

It really depends on what you have on your roster...If you have good RB depth then cuffing wouldn't make sense. You can just plug in another RB to replace the hurt one.

After the draft I had LT, CT, ADP, and JJ. I felt like I needed to go after Turner because if LT went down my season was over.

I don't think cuffing is a matter of expecting the backup to produce the same as the starter or even 3/4ths the starter, but for FF purposes it's to ensure you get some points vs getting a zero.

I think cuffing is even more important this season because of the injuries. Vargas\Rhoades for Jordan looks great now. Graham\Pittman for Caddy. Young for Henry (incase he does miss time). Ward has filled in nicely for Jacobs. Leonard looked decent replacing SJax considering SJax hasn't done much this season either.

 

[playin4beer]

As a J.Addai owner, I feel all warm and tingly inside knowing Kenton Keith is warming my bench.

Especially when Addai goes down with a bruised shoulder and Keith comes in and has 10 carries for 80-yds.

 

[fsufan]

Any of you play in a no trade league. It is funny when a guy drafts a back up like Turner or Betts in a no trade league but does not have LT or Portis

 

[CrazyHorse1581]

Any of you play in a no trade league. It is funny when a guy drafts a back up like Turner or Betts in a no trade league but does not have LT or Portis

Why would anyone ever play in a no trade league? This may sound facetious but its not, trading is half the fun.

 

[ImTheScientist]

Hancuff's = Waste of roster space

 

[The Rook]

As a J.Addai owner, I feel all warm and tingly inside knowing Kenton Keith is warming my bench.Especially when Addai goes down with a bruised shoulder and Keith comes in and has 10 carries for 80-yds.

Ahhh...this is a good handcuff that I missed. An example of where i'd have confidence that the system (lineman and rest of offense) are going to give a backup a good chance of putting up numbers. Actually I'd list this as the most important handcuff right now.

 

[Koya]

I think the whole notion of handcuffing has run amok over the last few years. In the past, there have been a SELECT few truly great handcuffs... however, these are often difficult to spot and have less to do with a starters talent than with the team's talent and system. In addition, the huge success of the very few handcuffs that work seem to perpetuate the consensus feel that handcuffs are necessary far more often than they should be.

Basically, when Marshall Faulk went down on the rams, Trung Candidate or countless others would get their shot and put up HUGE numbers. Indy's system provided somewhat similar results. Fred Taylor gave way to James Stewart. Recently, LJ took over for Priest.

These are once every few year occasions and except for specific systems like Indy, the greatest show on turf or the Jags Running Game you really can't count on most backups to put up close to Stud numbers.

 

[One]

Hancuff's = Waste of roster space

Might be different in a 10 or 12 man, but this is an insane statement in deeper leagues. I've won a few leagues the past few years due to the emergence of handcuffs. ...L.J., Jones-Drew & Ladell Betts, thank you. I'd call Turner, Betts, MB3, Keith & Young the 5 to own.

 

[ImTheScientist]

Hancuff's = Waste of roster space

Might be different in a 10 or 12 man, but this is an insane statement in deeper leagues. I've won a few leagues the past few years due to the emergence of handcuffs. ...L.J., Jones-Drew & Ladell Betts, thank you. I'd call Turner, Betts, MB3, Keith & Young the 5 to own.

If you draft a hundcuff because he is value then its not a waste of space. If you go out of your way to get a handcuff then it = wasted space. See Betts owners this year.

 

[One]

Selvin Young and Kenyon Keith are the only two I would handcuff this season.

Insanity.If LT went down.. People would be running ALL OVER themselves to pick up Turner.

 

[One]

Hancuff's = Waste of roster space

Might be different in a 10 or 12 man, but this is an insane statement in deeper leagues. I've won a few leagues the past few years due to the emergence of handcuffs. ...L.J., Jones-Drew & Ladell Betts, thank you.

I'd call Turner, Betts, MB3, Keith & Young the 5 to own.

If you draft a hundcuff because he is value then its not a waste of space. If you go out of your way to get a handcuff then it = wasted space. See Betts owners this year.

Still too early to judge, but I see your point.

 

[shredhead]

Hancuff's = Waste of roster space

Might be different in a 10 or 12 man, but this is an insane statement in deeper leagues. I've won a few leagues the past few years due to the emergence of handcuffs. ...L.J., Jones-Drew & Ladell Betts, thank you. I'd call Turner, Betts, MB3, Keith & Young the 5 to own.

MB3 is not a handcuff!

 

[NoCheese]

Kenny Watson is a viable handcuff, along w/ Keith, Turner, Betts, and Selvin Young

 

[RamMan]

Hancuff's = Waste of roster space

Might be different in a 10 or 12 man, but this is an insane statement in deeper leagues. I've won a few leagues the past few years due to the emergence of handcuffs. ...L.J., Jones-Drew & Ladell Betts, thank you. I'd call Turner, Betts, MB3, Keith & Young the 5 to own.

Davenport would fill in nicely if FWP ever went down. I have both on my roster.

 

[One]

Kenny Watson is a viable handcuff, along w/ Keith, Turner, Betts, and Selvin Young

True. Watson would do well with a starting role.

MB3 is not a handcuff!

Brilliant.My fab 5: Turner, Bettsy, Watson, Young, Keith. (no particular order)

 

[Bobcat10]

I still say they are useful. Depends more on the league structure though. I'm very happy with cuffing Keith as my RB5, taken in the last round, in a 12-team league where you can only have 5 RBs. He's actually more valuable than players like LWashington, who happens to be my RB4. Cuffs in good situations (clearly defined) are guaranteed production. For what you pay for many of them (not a high draft pick), they should be worth it if given the opportunity.

 

[Broncoholic]

Selvin Young and Kenyon Keith are the only two I would handcuff this season.

Picked up both during the game yesterday.

 

[Max Power]

Selvin Young and Kenyon Keith are the only two I would handcuff this season.

Insanity.If LT went down.. People would be running ALL OVER themselves to pick up Turner.

i guess...but the way I see it, If LT is putting up average stats in this Offense, how great are Turners going to be?

 

[hellz_fireflies]

Any of you play in a no trade league. It is funny when a guy drafts a back up like Turner or Betts in a no trade league but does not have LT or Portis

Why would anyone ever play in a no trade league? This may sound facetious but its not, trading is half the fun.

I'm in 2 no trade leagues this year. Plus 142 other FBG members are also in them I believe, plus some staff of FBG's too.They call them the OMEGA LEAGUES!

 

[pollardsvision]

generally, i just try to grab backups that are in a position to produce, whether they are backups to my own players or not, and let a little luck takeover from there.

you can't control or necessarily predict exactly who will get hurt, so i just grab the guys who i think will do the best if called upon.

all i want to know is.....

do they have talent?

are they the clear backup who will get the yards, catches, and the TDs? or is there someone to muddy the waters?

have they demonstrated the ability to be a bellcow before?

is there a reason to assume the starter will get hurt?

the best draft picks i've ever made got me laughed at at the time. '05-LJ with the 1st pick of the 5th round and '06-MJD in the 13th round.

pure handcuffing is great, if you believe you'd actually want to play that back if the starter went down.

there's alot of chance involved, especially as other guys arise while you're waiting for your lottery tickets to break through.

personally, i'm trying to hold out as long as i can on najeh davenport. i think he'd be a beast if FWP goes down.

 

[kutta]

What about Buckhalter? He scored 17.8 points last night in a PPR league. We can switch out players anytime as long as they haven't started their game yet. Having the handcuff in that situation is golden because you can wait right up until the start of any game and plug in the backup if your guy can't go.

 

[hellz_fireflies]

What about Buckhalter? He scored 17.8 points last night in a PPR league. We can switch out players anytime as long as they haven't started their game yet. Having the handcuff in that situation is golden because you can wait right up until the start of any game and plug in the backup if your guy can't go.

[/quote

Some league rules don't permit that switchout..lineups are frozen at 1PM Sunday (unless a Thursday/Saturday game which is even worst). I have to say this rule suks, in one league with this rule but if they don't change it my $$$ goes else where!

 

[kutta]

What about Buckhalter? He scored 17.8 points last night in a PPR league. We can switch out players anytime as long as they haven't started their game yet. Having the handcuff in that situation is golden because you can wait right up until the start of any game and plug in the backup if your guy can't go.

Some league rules don't permit that switchout..lineups are frozen at 1PM Sunday (unless a Thursday/Saturday game which is even worst). I have to say this rule suks, in one league with this rule but if they don't change it my $$$ goes else where!

Yes, I only have one league that allows the late switchout. My point was that in those types of leagues, I think the handcuff is more valuable. If you have to make an early decision, you want to plug in your best guy that you know will play, and that won't be the RB in question or his handcuff. If you can wait until just before game time, you can plug in whichever one is playing.