Handcuff Hierarchy: Don't Get Left In The Dust


If Steven Jackson pulled a groin this year, would you know who his backup was to make a quick add before any one else in your league?

If Steven Jackson pulled a groin this year, would you know who his backup was to make a quick add before any one else in your league?

last updated 9/08/09

At Top Fantasy Football, we want our readers to have every advantage over their opponents.

When playing  fantasy football it is important to know the backups to each starting running back. When the starting running back goes down due to suspension or injury, it’s important to have his backup either already on your bench or one click away from being added. This is called the “handcuff strategy” and it is useful so your team doesn’t skip a beat in case of injury. If Marion Barber got hurt in the middle of the season and you didn’t have Felix Jones on your bench you’d be putting yourself in a big hole!

Refer to the following table to get to know the backups to all the starting running backs. In some cases, the backups will play just as much or more than the starter.

Feel free to bookmark this page on your browser so when you hear about an injury you can refer to this table to find out who to pick up. I will be updating this table through the season in case the depth chart changes. Expect some changes to occur before the regular season starts again after more recent official depth charts have been released. You can also sign up for our Dominator Service. Members are notified when a running back (or any other player) goes down and who the relevant fantasy replacement will be. Knowing this before anyone anyone else in your league is an unfair advantage enabling you to Dominate your League.

NFC North Starter Handcuff
Chicago Bears Matt Forte Kevin Jones
Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson Chester Taylor
Green Bay Packers Ryan Grant Brandon Jackson
Detroit Lions Kevin Smith Maurice Morris
NFC South Starter Handcuff
Atlanta Falcons Michael Turner Jerious Norwood
Carolina Panthers DeAngelo Williams Jonathan Stewart
New Orleans Saints Reggie Bush / Pierre Thomas
Mike Bell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cadillac Williams Earnest Graham / Derrick Ward
NFC East Starter Handcuff
Dallas Cowboys Marion Barber Felix Jones / Tashard Choice
New York Giants Brandon Jacobs Ahmad Bradshaw
Philadelphia Eagles Brian Westbrook LeSean McCoy
Washington Redskins Clinton Portis Ladell Betts
NFC West Starter Handcuff
Arizona Cardinals Tim Hightower Beanie Wells
San Francisco 49ers Frank Gore Glen Coffee
Seattle Seahawks Julius Jones Edgerrin James
St. Louis Rams Steven Jackson Kenneth Darby
AFC North Starter Handcuff
Baltimore Ravens Ray Rice Willis McGahee
Cincinnati Bengals Cedric Benson Brendon Scott
Cleveland Browns Jamaal Lewis James Davis
Pittsburgh Steelers Willie Parker Rashard Mendenhall
AFC South Starter Handcuff
Jacksonville Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew Rashad Jennings
Indianapolis Colts Joseph Addai Donald Brown
Houston Texans Steve Slaton Chris Brown
Tennessee Titans Chris Johnson LenDale White
AFC East Starter Handcuff
Buffalo Bills Marshawn Lynch Fred Jackson
Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown Ricky Williams
New England Patriots Faulk / Green-Ellis / Maroney / Morris / Taylor
N/A
New York Jets Thomas Jones Leon Washington / Shonn Greene
AFC West Starter Handcuff
Denver Broncos Correll Buckhalter LaMont Jordan
Kansas City Chiefs Larry Johnson Jamaal Charles
Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden Michael Bush / Justin Fargas
San Diego Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson Darren Sproles

One comment

  1. You are correct with the Saints, Bush is not a handcuff, he plays the same prominent role he has every year. Even though Pierre Thomas runs the ball, Reggie will still see as many chances as in previous years, the same goes for Leon Washington. I like what you put for Oakland also, Bush will be McFadden’s handcuff! And the Patriots RBBC couldn’t be more true. I think Samkon Gado should end up as Steven Jackson’s handcuff though, Darby is not that promising.