One of the oldest fantasy football strategies in existence is the practice of “handcuffing” running backs.

In essence, the theory behind this idea is to draft backup running backs in the later rounds of fantasy drafts in order to obtain a usable running back if a top one goes down to injury. This can be done in order to extract value yourself, or to possibly force the owner of the injured player to trade for your backup to recoup value from their draft day selection.

The benefits of this theory are clear:

- Secure a possible RB1 for a next-to-nothing cost on draft day
- Block other owners from securing such possible value
- Hedge your bets against oft-injured running backs

And while all of these factors can be extremely advantageous when carried out properly, a few assumptions need to be made when taking this approach:

- The necessity of injury
- Assuming that the game plan will not change dramatically if the starting running back is injured
- Knowing for certain who will take the place of the starter if an injury occurs.

I'm a firm believer in the relative randomness of injuries in the NFL. Sure, some players seem to be more likely to get hurt than others – in which running backs are the most likely offensive skill position players to sustain injury.

When to Handcuff

When looking for viable handcuff candidates, it’s crucial to identify offenses that feature their main running back prominently. Offenses that use their running backs in multiple ways, including catching passes, provides an added bonus.

The table below shows the top five running backs from 2013 in terms of total touches.

With the exception of Shaun Draughn may have taken that title away. Draughn only has 63 career carries, but has shown the ability to catch the ball so far this preseason, a necessity in Marc Trestman’s offensive scheme. Draghan is going undrafted in 14-team leagues, while Carey is the RB72, reflecting the uncertainty of the situation.

evidenced by his drop in average draft position in 12-team leagues over the past month (10.06 to 11.05). That should be music to the ears of fantasy owners wishing to secure the most talented running back not named Lynch in Seattle.

But it was Hillman who got the start in Denver’s second preseason game with a highly profitable place to be for fantasy purposes.

The Bottom Line

As we have discussed, there are plenty of viable options who fall into the handcuff category. And in truth, some of the guys above won’t even be drafted in your leagues. And this is where the bottom line emerges.

Remember that injuries, although nearly impossible to predict, strike running backs more frequently than any other offensive position. Aim for running backs that are set to take on a large workload in the event of an injury, and you’ll be ready to reap the rewards of a necessary evil of our beloved game.

In the later rounds of your drafts, finding upside should be the stated mission. Taking a stab at a potential RB1 workhorse like Chris Polk or Knile Davis could be the lottery ticket that propels you to a fantasy title in 2014.