These days, it's not enough to find the right running back for your team. In many cases you'll also need to be dialed in to their handcuff so you aren't forced into the desert wasteland known as your league's waiver wire. It costs another precious roster spot, but the peace of mind that a late-round insurance policy can bring is often more valuable than any other player you'd take in that spot. And if that guy is called into duty and pulls his own weight, you'll rescue your season and feel like a genius for selecting them.
It's all great, right? Sure, except that getting the right information can be a challenge.
First things first: A disclaimer. Yes, there are clear-cut backups that could be targeted. Jaylen Samuels comes to mind. Ito Smith should definitely have a role if Devonta Freeman gets hurt. Ronald Jones doesn't seem to have anywhere to go but up. Austin Ekeler might not ever have a three-down job with the Chargers, but he'll deserve consideration from every team at your draft. And I'm sure you have your favorites, so there are definitely known quantities that serve as valuable handcuffs (maybe more if Gordon doesn't report).
Sound good? Fine. So aside from a few exceptions, the rest is a sea of uncertainty, misinformation and out-an-out lying from NFL teams. They either don't want you to know who their backups are, or they don't know themselves. The latter is understandable, really. That's kind of why the preseason exists. But the former can hurt your fantasy team just as much, and wreck the latter half of your draft.
Beware of the following when trying to determine the right handcuff for your starters:
The Depth Chart. If the depth chart was a person, it would be a magician. There's a lot of misdirection and trickery, and things usually aren't what they appear to be. The only reason teams release depth charts is because the NFL requires it. Do you think the Patriots want to release a list of players showing who the starters and backups are? Fortunately for the teams (and unfortunately for us), the depth charts don't mean anything. They can use them as motivation for a sluggish player, a reward for hard work at training camp or as a sign of respect to an aging veteran. And they can change every day. To top it all off, none of that matters when the games start. There will definitely be a name listed as a direct backup to your starter, but don't put much (or any) faith in it.
The Coaches. If the head coach was a person, they would be a lying head coach. There's a lot of misdirection and trickery, and things usually aren't what they appear to be. A coach can (and will) talk up a guy, then cut him before the week is over. They can call out a player right before they promote them to backup. Coaches gain basically nothing by being honest with the media, so it's no surprise that they rarely are. Keep that in mind when you hear one talk about a fantastic backup.
The Preseason. The fourth-quarter superstar in a meaningless game is not necessarily the first guy off the bench when the starter goes down. Players are fighting for roster spots, but they're not necessarily the spots that will help you win a title. I'm not saying a good handcuff can't emerge in August. I'm saying that it's often too hit-and-miss to stake a roster spot on it.
Okay, I guess I'm good at pointing out obstacles for you. Hooray. So where can you look for reliable handcuff information?
Signings After Final Cuts. Depending on when your draft is held, this might or might not help you. But teams often re-shuffle their depth chart after signing another team's cast-off. Teams won't usually sign a vested player for no reason at this point in the year; their full salary is guaranteed (with some exceptions) if they're on the official roster before week 1. A guy signed in week 3 might just be there to kick the tires or fill a temporary depth issue. But a veteran guy who makes the final roster is, in theory, supposed to contribute something to the team. If it's a name you already know, good chance they have a shot at playing time.
Big contracts/Early pick/Coach's choice. You think Ronald Jones deserved to be on the Buccaneers last season? Based on performance alone, he'd struggle to find a spot on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League. But he had a contract with more than $4 million in guarantees, was an early pick and was chosen by the coaching staff at the time. So he's still with the team, and "backup" looks like his floor to begin the season. Bigger contracts and expectations mean a longer leash. And if you were picked by the current staff (unlike Jones), that's a bonus.
Last Man Standing. That final roster cut thing works for the team making the cuts, too. Sometimes the team adds a backup by subtracting everyone else. If three guys are vying for that spot and two get cut, you have your backup. If a player isn't an asset on special teams, he's probably there for a different reason.
If you're having trouble spotting the backup, that's a sign they might not be worth a roster spot, anyway. Sometimes it's better to take a flier on another team. But if you're able to find the right one, you'll buy some peace of mind and maybe some valuable fantasy points.
And if it ends up being the wrong one, don't despair. There's always the waiver wire. That'll put a smile on your face, right? Yeah, me neither.
How do you identify the right handcuff? When do you decide to bother with a player's backup, or go in a different direction? Who do you like in 2019, and why? Share your thoughts below.