Handcuffs Can Prove Valuable
With impending suspensions for the early season occurring, it’s imperative to know of the backups. These backups can be found late in drafts and give you tremendous value in the early weeks. Here are some handcuffs that can win you these early games.
Jacquizz Rodgers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10.12 ADP
Doug Martin has been suspended for the first three weeks due to a violation of the NFL’s drug policy. Last season, he missed six games due to a right hamstring sprain. In those six weeks, you saw Jacquizz Rodgers step in and provide solid performances. In weeks five through eight, Rodgers had three performances in which he ranked in the top fifteen for runningbacks.
The Bucs did draft a runningback in Jeremy McNichols, a pass-catching back from Boise State. However he, along with Charles Sims, should assume the role of a third-down back. That leaves Jacquizz Rodgers as the between-the-tackles back. Rodgers’ draft projection at the tail end of the tenth round gives you the option of drafting a RB2 at the end of the draft.
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Terrance West, Baltimore Ravens, 9.11 ADP
This isn’t necessarily a handcuff, due to the fact that Terrance West and second-year back Kenneth Dixon were battling for that early-down back role. But, with Kenneth Dixon’s 4-game suspension due to violating the league’s PED rule, it’s all West for the early down role. His talent isn’t out-of-this-world, but he is the starting running back, and at his ADP, it’s hard to pass that up. In 2016, he ended up a top 24 runningback, with two weeks of top ten finishes and seven total top 24 finishes.
Danny Woodhead joined the backfield this offseason, and will assume all of the pass-catching work. He might even take some of the redzone work, but West will handle the bulk of the workload. If Terrance West performs up to par, he might have the job even beyond week 4. Paying a near 10th round draft pick for a starting runningback? Sign me up.
Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys, 14.02 ADP
This may be a tad premature, as the NFL has yet to make a decision on the length of star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension, or even if he will suspended at all. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Zeke is bracing for a “short suspension”. This news from Schefter broke before the recent story of his bar-fighting incident.
Regardless, we need to prepare for the worst and start looking at viable starting options for the Dallas Cowboys come week 1. Through an injury plagued 2016 season, Darren McFadden is still “favored over (Alfred) Morris”, according to a Dallas sports page. McFadden has found success within the Dallas organization, where he totaled 1,087 yards in 2015. Stick anybody behind that Dallas O-line, and you’ll have a fantasy asset. So, while waiting on an impending ruling regarding Zeke, it’s not a bad idea to keep an eye out for McFadden if you’re drafting early.
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