Stop handcuffing players you own.

A thread

Handcuffs (typically RBs) are players without tons of value as a stand-alone, but become valuable if their starter misses time.

Chase Edmonds, Alexander Mattison, Tony Pollard, & Latavius Murray are some of the highest regarded this year.

Handcuffs and their starters are traditionally owned by the same owner.

Ex. If you draft Dalvin Cook, you also should draft Alexander Mattison to handcuff him in case of a Cook injury, you keep the same touches.

This isn’t a good roster setup or a good build.

Why?

Because it’s a floor play.

Again, this is done in case Cook gets hurt, you’re protected from the damage, because Mattison slots into his touches.

But Mattison and Cook will never (rarely) be relevant at the same time.

Instead, you should be buying handcuffs to backs you don’t own.

Ex. You draft Dalvin Cook and Chase Edmonds instead of Mattison. Kenyan Drake gets hurt, and suddenly you have two RB1s.

Is there a chance Cook gets hurt and you’re out?

Yes.

But fantasy football is won by owners who are building high ceiling rosters and catching a break.

It’s not won by high floor owners that are safe from injury.