Trashman’s 2020 Running Back Handcuffs Guide and Video

Members of RosterWatch Nation looking to “handcuff” one of their front-line running backs (to handcuff means to draft or acquire a star player’s backup as insurance in case that player loses time do to injury or other circumstances) can check out Trashman’s Handcuff breakdown video and shared google sheet below.

Please also note that “handcuffing” is not just for your own players. It is perfectly fine to draft the handcuffs of other players in your league so as not to allow them to. This is a more aggressive and high-upside way of rostering backup running backs as you can technically add an extra viable starter to your roster WITHOUT LOSING ANOTHER, while traditional handcuffing is a more conservative tactic as it basically only serves as insurance should trouble strike with one of your own key starters.

As for explanation of the tool: A few years back, one of our PRO members asked in the comments section of an article for a running back handcuff tool to use in drafts as a supplement to the cheat sheet. Since, Trashman has made this little sheet every year as a quick reference. It’s taken the top 25-or-so running backs and assigned each one a “level” of handcuff viability. The sheet should be pretty easily understood, but it basically lets you know if the running back you are considering has a “handcuff” you should aim to select at some point during the draft, and the general level of importance in aiming to secure that handcuff. The three levels are “must handcuff,” “might want to handcuff,” and “low priority handcuff,” along with a section with notes if there is no true handcuff. As with all supplemental draft tools, this is not a substitute for the cheat sheet and is merely reference material to aid in identifying whether or not to handcuff players. It is a personal decision depending on your risk aversion regarding how/when to handcuff as outlined above. If you must “reach” a small bit for certain players in the “must-have” handcuff cell, you are allowed to deviate ever so slightly from the sheet at the appropriate time to make that happen. REMEMBER – you do not have to handcuff players you have drafted. If a player is labeled as a MUST-HANDCUFF, it only means that the player should be OWNED in most 12 team leagues due to his value should the starter go down. The decision to handcuff is always left up to you.

Click here to go to Trashman’s shared Google Doc.

15 Comments

  1. ↓ Post By DJ

    Thanks, Trashman – good stuff. Given all the RB drama for early picks, is an end of draft position better these days? i.e. I have the choice to pick 8th or 11th in 12 team, PPR home league – thinking later the better to stay with Mixon, Ekeler, etc, and avoid the ????. What a mess out there…thanks!

    1. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

      I like later picks in superflex.
      But i think the question we should ask oursekves is who comes around with our 3rd and 4th picks?

      Run a few mocks in the platform your league is in (espn, yahoo, sleeper) see which team comes out best

  2. ↓ Post By jschles14

    Stefon diggs and chase claypool
    Or
    AJ green and deebo Samuel

    What side are you on?

    1. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

      Its close if you can wait to see how AJG most recent injury shakes out. Do that.
      Cause what u are doing is trading a heathy diggs for 2 injured guys.

      If its a dynasty i maybe go the deebo side.
      But see if u cant swap ajgreen for some younger middling player.

  3. ↓ Post By Pop Rocks

    When will rankings be posted?

    1. ↓ Post By Kwillee@hotmail.com

      I am sure they will be up next week.

  4. ↓ Post By Spinman

    Jax taxing situation – .5 per reception 10 team, drop C Thomp for Ozigbo for my RB5???

    1. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

      Yes

  5. ↓ Post By Pop Rocks

    Does anyone suggest any rankings to use currently?

    Does anyone recommend any apps to get live updates sent to your phone?

  6. ↓ Post By hoosierdonny@comcast.net

    Hey guys…
    I’m in the rebuilding of a contract year league and I drafted the following (and no, it’s not just a rookie draft):
    Johnathan Taylor
    AJ Dillon
    Justin Jefferson
    Henry Ruggs III
    Michael Pittman Jr.

    I have 15 years left to divide among those 5…I could give them all years or not necessarily…5 years is the max contract…who would you give what to?

    Thanks in advance!!

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      I’d give JT the longest contract I can. Maybe 5 to him, 3 to Ruggs, 3 to Pittman, 2 to AJD 2 to J Jefferson?

  7. ↓ Post By nferguson@metrolawnsprinkler.com

    Should I pick up Thompson or Armstead and drop Marlon Mack?

    1. ↓ Post By Alan Seslowsky

      nferg:

      I’d hold onto Mack. All the JT positive buzz is likely real, but Mack is still going to have a solid role behind a good OL. The other RBs project to be on a low scoring offense.

      1. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

        gotta hold on to mack

  8. ↓ Post By FrankGrimes

    Play the song!

Leave a Reply