Posted by Paul in Fantasy Advice on Aug 21st 2009 (Print This)
Every fantasy football owner knows they need to have a plan in order to have a successful season. The problem is that there’s no blue print to make the perfect plan. The unforeseen happens in football every year. We usually don’t plan for injuries but we should. Injuries are a part of the game and they are going to occur. Out of all the positions, running backs are the most susceptible to the injury bug. When you invest a high draft pick on a running back you should make sure you draft his backup or handcuff.
The term handcuff is used because it allows owners to attach themselves to a top draft picks backup. It’s an insurance policy on your stud running back. We need insurance on our cars, houses and lives, why not our fantasy football players? I’m a fan of locking down a teams back field. This is especially true for running backs on good teams. If I draft the Colts’ Joseph Addai, I would probably reach a round early to secure his handcuff, Donald Brown. I know that Brown has the potential to produce solid numbers if Addai were to be injured. I would rather lock down the Colts backfield instead of taking a flier on another owners handcuff. However, taking another owners handcuff does make excellent trade bait. Be smart on draft day and cover your back.
The players on this list would see a significant spike in value and productivity should the starter go down. I’ve added each players ADP (average draft position) and round there being drafted in so you can plan accordingly on draft day. The ADP I used is for a 12 team standard league.
Adrian Peterson
Chester Taylor – ADP: 112/ Rnd:10. If any thing happens to Peterson, Taylor is more than capable of carrying the workload. He would become a low end RB1.
DeAngelo Williams
Jonathan Stewart – ADP: 62/ Rnd: 6. Stewart will get a ton of work this year regardless of Williams. If Deangelo can not go for any reason then Stewart becomes a potential top 10 back.
Michael Turner
Jerious Norwood – ADP: 136/ Rnd: 12. Norwood doesn’t have the size to be an every down back but he could be dangerous with more touches.
Frank Gore
Glen Coffee - ADP: 157/ Rnd: 14. The rookie would see a healthy number of carries if Gore went down. Although raw, he could produce if given the chance.
Brian Westbrook
LeSean McCoy – ADP: 81/ Rnd: 7. Westbrook is coming off knee and ankle surgery. McCoy is in a great situation and could be very good in the Eagles’ offense.
Joseph Addai
Donald Brown – ADP: 77/ Rnd: 7. Addai battled injuries throughout most of last season. If it happens this year, Brown could produce top 10 numbers.
Brandon Jacobs
Ahmad Bradshaw – ADP: 97/ Rnd: 9. The Giants will run and Jacobs has missed time the last two years.
Marshawn Lynch
Fred Jackson – ADP: 101/ Rnd: 9. Lynch will miss the first three games because of suspension. Jackson will get a chance to prove his worth with Lynch out.
Willie Parker
Rashard Mendenhall – ADP: 96 / Rnd: 8. Fast Willie is not that fast anymore. Mendenhall could produce in the Steelers run first system. It’s worth noting that Mewelde Moore could be the most productive back on the roster. He is currently going un-drafted in most leagues.
Chris Wells
Tim Hightower – ADP: 100 / Rnd: 9. Wells was not exactly a picture of health at Ohio State. Hightower doesn’t offer much upside, but could produce around the goal line.
Larry Johnson
Jamaal Charles – ADP: 145 / Rnd: 13. L.J. will be 30 and running behind a poor o-line. Charles may be a better fit in the Chiefs new spread offense.
Matt Forte
Kevin Jones – ADP: 158 / Rnd: 14. Jones could be productive behind the Bears o-line. He should only be drafted by Forte owners.
Clinton Portis
Ladell Betts – ADP: 159 / Rnd: 14. Portis slowed down and battled injuries down the stretch last year. Betts could have value as the only real option behind Portis.
Ryan Grant
Brandon Jackson – ADP: un-drafted. Jackson should see an increased workload and could be serviceable should Grant go down.
Maurice Jones-Drew
Chauncey Washington – ADP: un-drafted. Washington is number two on the depth chart and could have value if Jones-Drew falters. Rookie Rashad Jennings should also be on MJD owner’s radars.
LaDainian Tomlinson
Darren Sproles – ADP: 93 / Rnd: 8. If Tomlinson goes down then the undersized, yet explosive Sproles could become a weekly option.
Thomas Jones
Leon Washington
Shonn Greene – ADP: 118 / Rnd: 11. Washington isn’t an every down back and Jones is getting old. If Green gets the chance, he could shine behind the Jets massive offensive line.