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Let me begin by thanking all of you for reading this drivel I produce on a weekly basis. Hopefully you’ve found it helpful, informative, and most of all, put my suggestions here to good use.  Throughout the season so many handcuffs have found their way into starting roles and excelled. Some on a one week fill in, but others took the job and ran with it. We salute you graduated handcuffs. Thanks for making the draft meaningless. Just kidding, but seriously who would you rather have right now, Jimmy Graham or Justin Forsett? LeSean McCoy or Jeremy Hill? You don’t need to answer, the right choice is obvious. It just goes to show how increasingly viable the handcuff stash option is. The beginning of next year pundits, peers, and perts will be lined up by the dozen to tell you handcuffs are a waste of roster spot. To them I say this: if you make a costly investment in a running back, does it really hurt to buy an insurance policy? You would on a car, house, or collection of Star Wars commemorative plates. Right? What you don’t own any Star Wars commemorative plates? More of a Star Trek guy eh? What? You don’t own any commemorative plates! What do you eat your hot pockets on?

 

Demarco Murray – He’s going to play with a bandage on his paw. This is the Cowboys after all and there are records to be broken and attention to be had the last two weeks of the season. Jerry Jones loves attention and DeMarco’s status is getting him some. He’s playing no doubt.

Knile Davis – Went all Antone Smith a broke a 70 yard TD catch last week, he also vultured one from Jamaal Charles in the ground. I’m not telling you to start Davis but he could be a worthwhile flex if you’re looking.

Chris Polk – He vultured two TD’s from the Shade man last week. The Eagles have been a frustrating team to own fantasy players from this year no?

Jeremy Hill – Welp, I guess he’s the starter now. Funny the beginning of the year I had he and Carlos Hyde neck and neck in the rankings pre-draft, but expected Hyde to do what Hill is doing. Thank god I held on my Hill shares. He may just bring me a writer’s league championship. Oh yeah that’s right I’m in the finals. What?!? What?!? Who want it? Reppin hard for the East Coast Razzballers.

Chris Thompson – Had a receiving touchdown filling in for Roy Helu Jr. The high point of his career will be his mention in the Week 16 Handcuff Report. It is quite a distinction.

Trent Richardson – My New Years resolution is to never ever think about him again. Ever!

Carlos Hyde – He’s more than likely out this week, too bad to, this might have been his long awaited breakout with Frank Gore banged up. In retrospect I’m pretty disappointed in what we got out of him this season. I expected Hyde, as I just said about an inch above, to be what Jeremy Hill is now, a force in the fantasy playoffs. I guess there is always next year but he’s not inspiring a great deal of confidence.

 

Fuzzy Handcuffs 

These guys are fun, fun, fun! Not for everyday use but good to own, and a blast when they’re in the mix. We may wish for a bit more run but have to accept that they’re splitting time and getting the most of their opportunities. Most of these handsome devils could probably be studs if given the chance.

TeamStarter (carries/targets/rec)Handcuff(s) (carries/targets/rec)Depth Backs
Cincinnati BengalsJeremy Hill (25/1/1)Giovani Bernard (15/3/3)Cedric Peerman
New York GiantsRashad Jennings (1/0/0)Andre Williams (18/4/1)
New England PatriotsLeGarrette Blount (8/2/2),Shane Vereen (6/3/1), Jonas Gray (11/1/1)Brandon Bolden, , James White
New York JetsChris Ivory (12/1/1)Chris Johnson (10/1/0)Bilal Powell
Cleveland BrownsIsaiah Crowell (7/3/2)Terrance West (5/0/0)
San Diego ChargersRyan Matthews (DNP)Branden Oliver (12/4/4)Donald Brown, Ronnie Brown, Shaun Draughn
Kansas City CheifsJamaal Charles (12/2/1)Knile Davis (9/2/1)De’Anthony Thomas, Cyrus Gray

Standard Issue Police

Whether you’re in the back of a squad car or sitting on the corner while the Po-Po search your whip, you’re going nowhere. Do you know why? Because those things are locked on your wrists with a death grip. Much like those cuffs, these running backs are firmly locked into their positions. Not for a lack of ability, but because the starters are firmly entrenched in their roles. These backs could have value on any given week but more than likely you’ll need an injury to make these guys startable.

TeamStarter (carries/targets/rec)Handcuff(s) (carries/targets/rec)Cuffs to the Cuffs
Philadelphia EaglesLeSean McCoy (16/2/1)Darren Sproles (3/2/2)Chris Polk
Minnesota VikingsMatt Asiata (11/7/7)Ben Tate (5/0/0)Joe Banyard
Indianapolis ColtsDan Herron (11/3/2)Trent Richardson (9/3/2)
Houston TexansArian Foster (26/4/3)Alfred Blue (8/0/0)Jonathan Grimes
San Francisco 49ersFrank Gore (11/0/0)Carlos Hyde (6/0/0)
Arizona CardinalsStepfan Taylor (14/0/0)Kerwynn Williams (15/5/2)Marion Grice , Robert Hughes,
Green Bay PackersEddie Lacy (15/2/2)James Starks (4/3/1)John Kuhn, DuJuan Harris
Detroit LionsJoique Bell (15/6/4)Reggie Bush (3/2/1)Theo Riddick,George Winn
St. Louis RamsTre Mason (13/1/0)Benny Cunningham (2/4/3)Zac Stacy
Baltimore RavensJustin Forsett (16/2/1)Bernard Pierce (6/1/0)
Denver BroncosC.J. Anderson (29/2/2)Ronnie Hillman (DNP), Montee Ball (DNP)Juwan Thompson,
New Orleans SaintsMark Ingram (17/0/0)Pierre Thomas (2/5/5)Khiry Robinson, Travaris Cadet

Duct Tape Cuffs

These are of the homemade variety, you’ll use them in a pinch (i.e the starting stud goes down) but they’re always in your drawer (wavier wire) ready to step in and do their job. It may be to the bare minimum degree but they can buy you some time.

TeamStarter (carries/targets/rec)Handcuff(s) (carries/targets/rec)Handcuff to the Handcuff
Buffalo BillsFred Jackson (20/6/3)Bryce Brown (4/2/1)Anthony Dixon
Oakland RaidersLatavius Murray (12/6/2)Darren McFadden (2/0/0)Marcel Reese, Maurice Jones-Drew
Pittsburgh SteelersLe’Veon Bell (20/7/5)Dri Archer
Jacksonville JaguarsToby Gerhart (13/2/2)Jordan Todman (3/2/1)Storm Johnson
Atlanta FalconsSteven Jackson (11/1/1)Devonte Freeman (4/2/1)Jazquizz Rodgers
Carolina PanthersJonathan Stewart (22/1/1)DeAngelo Williams (DNP)Fozzy Whitiker
Washington TeamAlfred Morris (14/0/0)Roy Helu (DNP), Chris ThompsonSilas Reed
Tennessee TitansBishop Sankey (3/1/1)Dexter McClusterShonn Greene (DNP), Leon Washington
Dallas CowboysDeMarco Murray (31/1/1)Joseph Randle (2/0/0)Lance Dunbar
Miami DolphinsLamar Miller (16/2/1)Daniel ThomasDamien Williams, LaMichael James
Seattle SeahawksMarshawn Lynch (21/2/1)Robert Turbin (5/0/0)Christine Michael
Chicago BearsMatt Forte (16/5/2)Ka’Deem Carey (1/3/3)Senorise Perry

Thanks for reading and Happy Handcuffing!

 

Don’t forget to send me all your Running Back Questions on twitter @ralphlifshitzbb.