Least Favorite Handcuffs
Anthony Thomas
We did my favorite backup running backs to handcuff' yesterday. Today let's look at some options that aren't high on my list.
Ladell Betts - A Rotoworld favorite for his playing style, Betts is going cost a top 75 pick to attach to Clinton Portis. That's just too expensive for a player who will be a well-used backup if Portis is healthy.
Reuben Droughns - Mediocre talent, and will cost more than your average backup in most leagues. I know Brandon Jacobs is unproven, but I don't want to reach too high to draft Droughns just for insurance. I would anticipate Droughns struggling if he had to start.
Correll Buckhalter - Tony Hunt could wind up stealing his job.
Marcel Shipp - Two Cardinals running backs is worse than two.
Jason Wright - See Marcel Shipp, replace Cardinals with Browns. And if I had to draft a Browns running back, I'd throw a flier on Jerome Harrison in deep PPR leagues.
Anthony Thomas - Dwayne Wright was Buffalo's fourth-round pick and might back up Marshawn Lynch. Until I know more about his camp progress, Thomas doesn't seem worth a 12-by-15 league investment. He should be available on the wire.
Guys that aren't really handcuffs - Vernand Morency, Jerious Norwood, Warrick Dunn, The Titans RBs, DeAngelo Williams, etc. Whether you like these players or not, they aren't true handcuffs. They have stand alone value and I wouldn't recommend spending multiple picks on the situations.
Comments
Are you saying that you wouldn't draft DeAngelo Williams ?
I have DeAngelo listed as a solid RB3 who could become a RB2....
Maybe I'm way off the mark
Posted by: Scott Girasia | July 3, 2007 05:22 PM
Morency seems go to pretty late for possible starting RB's. I just grabbed him and White in a 12 team 2 start RB league with the 10.01 and 10.04 (traded away my 9.09 for the 10.01 and a later pick)
Seems like Morency has a lot more upside than others going around then.
Posted by: J | July 3, 2007 05:33 PM
No I like Williams fine and Morency in the right situation too. Im just saying they aren't true "handcuffs"
Posted by: Gregg | July 4, 2007 01:06 AM
He isn't saying Morency, Williams, Norwood, and Dunn aren't handcuffs--but rather that they do not apply to the term "Handcuff" which typically is a term applied to back-up RBs in very good running systems. Williams is in a 2RB system. So are Norwood and Dunn. Morency doesn't fit because he is not in a good running system, and could very well even be the starter if Jackson doesn't show up to play.
Posted by: Big L | July 11, 2007 04:24 PM