Handcuffs are extremely useful for fantasy football. Injuries stink, but if you have a handcuff on your bench it can save your season. These are some of the best handcuffs for fantasy football in 2024.
2024 Fantasy Football Handcuff Rankings
Tier 1 – Flex With Benefits
- Raheem Mostert
- Jaylen Warren
- Tyler Allgeier
- Trey Benson
Warren was almost excluded (the Titans, Bengals, and Commanders were due to their murky backfields) but if Najee Harris goes down his workload would increase tremendously. Each of these players will get enough work that they can slide into the FLEX spot in a pinch but will be an auto-start if the starter goes down.
Mostert was the RB2 last year on some insane touchdown efficiency. He’s being drafted as the backup in Miami but can blow up on any given Sunday. Allgeier is closer to a 1b than a handcuff, which will drive Bijan Robinson drafters up a wall but is useful on fantasy benches. Benson was the second running back off the board in the draft, but Conner hasn’t been the picture of health. Any of these players could be league winners down the stretch.
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Tier 2 – Clear Role on Good Offense
- Blake Corum
- Zach Charbonnet
- Ray Davis
- Braelon Allen
- Jaylen Wright
If the starter goes down for any of these teams, their coach is in a pickle. But each of these players has a clear role, and would get the majority of the touches for their backfield. Israel Abanikanda has been boxed out completely by Braelon Allen, but Allen’s ADP hasn’t adjusted yet. Take advantage while you can.
Sean McVay is addicted to giving his running back 20 touches a game. At 5’9″, 194 pounds Kyren Williams is bound to miss time at some point, and Corum will be an immediate RB2 at worst. Davis is already making noise as a possible goal-line back for Buffalo, and his age (will turn 25 in season) and experience will make him a plug-and-play type back. The Dolphins rushing attack is efficient enough to support two backs, and if either Mostert or De’Von Achane miss time Wright is worth a dart.
Watch – Braelon Allen Pre-Draft Film Study
Tier 3 – Either a Clear Role on a Bad Offense or a Murky Role on a Great One
- Ty Chandler
- Marshawn Lloyd
- Antonio Gibson
- Taysom Hill
- Elijah Mitchell
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Each of these players has a case to be one of the top 2024 fantasy football handcuffs but is held back by their team or role. Chandler is the clear running mate with a 30-year-old, oft-injured Aaron Jones. But if Jones goes down how confident are we in a Sam Darnold offense? If Rhamondre Stevenson gets hurt, how confident would managers be to start Gibson? Both would probably be RB2s on volume alone, but that doesn’t get the people going.
Taysom Hill is mostly a meme at this point, but let’s be honest. If Kamara loses time to injury, who is getting touches in this offense? He’s tight end eligible on most sites, so it’s strange to recommend him on a 2024 fantasy football handcuffs list. But a handcuff that can slot into one of the most frustrating positions in football? Sign me up.
The rest are likely the backup on a high-powered offense, but there are rumblings that they’re fighting for their jobs. Draft with caution.
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