Depth charts are going to shuffle throughout the year. There are always players who step up out of nowhere and veterans who disappoint, so the pecking order for teams is often changing. There are still numerous position battles to be won and timeshares to be figured out, and those battles will continue throughout the regular season. Plus, there are some coaches who are notorious for switching up playing time on a weekly basis based on game plans and matchups (we’re looking at you Bill Belichick). So, it’s important to keep in mind that these are just projections, as starting roles and playing time can change on a dime in the NFL.
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Another important note, receiving backs often play their own role in the backfield and aren’t necessarily the traditional handcuff for a player. Often, receiving backs like Chris Thompson and Theo Riddick will stay in their roles with another primary runner taking over for the lead back. This may mean that the amount of carries for the receiving back won’t change much, but the fact is that they will still see an increase in snaps and could outproduce the new “lead back” anyway. It all depends on the situation, and that’s why a handful of pass-catching backs are included as handcuffs.
We’ll do our best to stay on top of every situation. Check back often for updates throughout the season!
2018 fantasy football running back handcuffs
*Rookie
^Texans starter Lamar Miller (foot) missed Week 16 ^^Chiefs starter Spencer Ware (hamstring, shoulder) has missed Weeks 15 and 16 ^^^Rams starter Todd Gurley (knee) missed Week 16 ^^^^Steelers starter James Conner (ankle) has missed Weeks 14, 15, and 16
