Handcuffing your starting RB means also having their back-up on your bench. That way, when 95% of the starters are injured 3 weeks into the season, you're the guy who isn't freaking out about a miracle waiver wire pickup.
Hindsight will always be 20/20 and you hate going into a season just expecting everyone to break both of their kneecaps. However, maybe you drafted 4 kickers because you're an idiot (that's why you're reading my blog, right?). Anyway, this means you have a couple of "poo spots" on that bench. By "poo spots" I basically mean places you're sitting guys who you know aren't going to see the field for you barring some total calamity. They're just sitting on that bench, taking a big poo for your team. You don't need that.
A good rhyme to remember, because I know everyone who is out of elementary school loves learning with rhymes, is "Fill up them poo spots, with glue spots". By glue spots I'm obviously talking about running backs who stick together. Handcuffing your Fred Jackson with C.J. Spiller. Gluing your Arian Foster to the likes of Ben Tate. One goes down, their production will be passed to the back-up. If I had taking my own advice and drafted Spiller in the lower rounds of the draft, I wouldn't have had to lose sleep for 3 days before adding McFadden.
Obviously a prime example of why you need to handcuff your RB has affected me directly. Like a middle school bully, not handcuffing Jackson with Spiller walked up and pulled down my pants in front of the entire class. I was embarrassed. It was a stupid mistake and I'm paying for it today (Spiller already has 2 TDs and nearly 100 YDs in the first half currently). Don't get your pants pulled down by the bully that is wishful thinking. Handcuff your backs and avoid the embarrassment.
Top 5 Handcuffs
1. Spiller for Jackson - This one has a slight sting to it. I'd rather not talk about it anymore...
2. Jacquizz Rodgers for Michael Turner - The Falcons have became a little more spread-happy with the emergence of Matt Ryan as a big name QB. But don't let the arm of Matty Ice turn you away from the Falcon's run game. In his last 4 seasons with the Falcons, Turner has racked up 1,189 touches. He's a bruising back, listed at 5'10" 247lbs, but everyone has their breaking point. Holding up 250 pounds can't be a fun time on the knees. Now add in the grind of 8 previous NFL seasons. In his second season out of Oregon State, Rodgers is the foil for Turner's smash-mouth style of running. He only got 57 chances last year to show his quickness, and he fumbled as many times as he scored (once). But don't let that scare you away from using one of your bench spots on Rodgers.
3. Tate for Foster - Even when Foster was healthy last season, Tate was be a respectable RB2 or Flex in deeper leagues. He got right around 12 touches per game with 5.4 YDs coming on each. Should something else happen to Foster, you'll want to take advantage of the production Tate will bring when he isn't competing for playing time.
4. Michael Bush for Matt Forte - Week 1 Chicago was very excited about their pass game and the "cannon arm" of Jay Cutler. Week 2, and the 4 picks courtesy of the Green Bay Packers, might bring them back to the ground. And just a side note, Forte was sidelined early Thursday for a high-ankle sprain. Bush is usually already a good bet to play with Forte in the mix. With him gone a week or two, look for him to put up some big numbers. It's kind of sad that Bush is stuck in this position as a "handcuff back". He played the same role for me last year when McFadden went down. If he gets some more chances to show his worth, I wouldn't expect him to be stuck in that category for much longer.
5. David Wilson for Ahmad Bradshaw - Bradshaw doesn't have Brandon Jacobs to split carries with this year, and that's a very good thing for Wilson owners. The duo of Bradshaw and Jacobs were a load in the backfield. A memorable moment for me being Jacobs truck-sticking Roman Harper in the end zone. VIDEO HERE! But without Jacobs to bolster the running work, Bradshaw won't be used to being the go-to guy in New York. Another fun coincidence happened as I was writing this, Bradshaw left the game against Tampa Bay with a neck injury (a speedy recover to you, humongous man who I don't want to kill me). Look for the speedy Wilson to switch up the tempo in the Giants backfield, if not for just a couple of weeks.
(Editors Note: Andre Brown has taken up the bulk of the carries today in Bradshaw's absence. He has 71 YDs and 1 TD. Maybe I spoke too soon for David Wilson...)
Morals Of The Post
- Fill up them poo spots with glue spots, yo!
- Handcuff yo man. Two for the price of one never hurt nobody. Know what I'm sayin' ladies?! Holla! But really you'll get great production...
- Don't draft 4 kickers. Who are you? Really?
Dexter: Love the blog up to Sept. 16. I'll send an email with more comments. Got to love the Bills lately. Colts Luck showed some frustration yesterday after interception and he seemed to underthrow a lot. Best, Hank Nuwer
ReplyDelete