Contingency planning is one of the most important parts of fantasy football, particularly in dynasty leagues. Any dynasty league player should always be reserving a few spots on his bench for future prospects and/or handcuffs. Without a doubt, some key position players will be injured, suspended, or benched this season, and it’s up to you to be prepared to deal with it. By no means do you want to depend on the Waiver Wire or Blind Bidding process to pick up a player you may desperately want or need.
Let’s take a look at some of this season’s Most Valuable Handcuffs for the running back position. Even if you do not have the Key RB on your roster, their handcuff may prove to be a valuable prospect or trade bait in the future.
Michael Turner < — > Jason Snelling :
Backround:
Over the past few seasons, Michael Turner has been a Top 10 Fantasy running back. Last year, we all heard the rumblings about “The Curse of 370”. While I was not a believer at first, the effects were definitely evident, and last year may be the beginning of a downward trend. In 2008, Turner’s PFF run rating was a 14.1, enough for 4th best. In 2009, it was down to a 3.2. Being healthy for just 10 games in 2009 because of ankle injuries, Turner was not himself, and only received positive PFF grades in 3 of them.
What to do:
Pick up Jason Snelling! If you have Turner, keep him and start him until Week 3, but begin to plan your exit strategy.
How to do it:
If Jason Snelling is available in your league, pick him up now! If he is taken, try to work out a fair deal with another owner. Snelling actually had a better overall PFF rating last year (7.0 vs. 5.4), and played 40% more snaps than Turner. At the age of 26, he has the potential to breakout if given the opportunity.
Just 4 months away from his 29th birthday, Michael Turner is well on his way towards the downside of his career. However, coming off of a summer’s rest, Turner could very likely start the 2010 season in a positive fashion. In weeks 2 and 3, he has favorable matchups against the Cardinals and the Saints, two teams who ranked in the Bottom 3rd of the league last season based on PFF rankings for rush defense. As a matter of fact, Turner played his best game of the season last year against the Saints, earning a 4.3 overall PFF grade. When he get’s hot, don’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a trade deal. His next 3 matchups are against the 49ers, Browns, and Eagles, three teams with very physical defenses that ranked in the Top 10 based on PFF rush defense grading.
Cedric Benson < — > Bernard Scott :
Backround:
Cedric Benson made for a great comeback story last year. Drafted in the middle rounds of many fantasy drafts, not much was expected of him. However, he turned out to be a great surprise and a great value to many fantasy owners, earning a 4.7 PFF Run grade, which ranked him 13th. Most fantasy owners would jump at the opportunity to have a running back who would deliver 1,254 rushing yards and 6 TDs. However, in reality, Benson was lacking in other important areas for an elite running back. Benson received a -2.9 receiving grade, and a -0.3 blocking grade. While the Bengals staff was likely satisfied with Benson’s production last season, they can’t be thrilled with his lack of performance in these other areas.
Waiting in the wings is 2nd year pro, Bernard Scott. Built similarly to Chris Johnson, he may not have the same speed, but he has all the attributes to be a great every down back on this team. In 2009, Scott received a better overall grade than Benson (4.4 vs. 1.6). All he needs is his big break.
What to do:
Pick up Bernard Scott and be prepared to hold onto him for the long run.
How to do it:
This is a case where I suggest picking up Scott, even if you do not own Benson. Especially for those of you in Dynasty Leagues, sacrifice a roster spot for Scott now, as it will pay dividends in the future. Benson has not been consistent enough of a player over the past few years. Additionally, his off field troubles concern me. And if they continue, Roger Goodell has shown that he has no problem handing out suspensions, regardless of who you are. While Scott hasn’t been a model citizen in the past, he has all the makings to be the future running back of this franchise if he keeps his focus. Owned in just 10% of Yahoo Leagues, and 28% of ESPN leagues, be sure to get him while he‘s still flying a bit under the radar.
Maurice Jones-Drew < — > Rashad Jennings :
Backround:
Maurice Jones-Drew has been one of fantasy football’s most consistent running backs. At 25 years old, he is in the prime of his career. Last season, he was the #1 ranked running back with an overall PFF grade of 21.2. Having missed just 1 game over the past 4 seasons, he has been one of the most durable and productive backs in the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars offense posted the best PFF rushing grade last season with an 18.7. With the Jaguars offense so successful and pretty dependant on the rushing game, it can’t hurt to be prepared to carry MJD’s backup, who would be very valuable if given an opportunity to play.
Rashad Jennings is your man. While there hasn’t been a need for Jennings to play much in the past, he has made the most of his limited opportunities. Jennings averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season and scored 3 TDs. He also averaged an adequate 0.4 PFF grade in games where he played 10 or more snaps, which is surely respectable for a rookie backup running back.
What to do:
If available in your league, store Jennings on your bench before kickoff on Sunday.
How to do it:
Rumors are spreading of an apparent knee injury, but we won’t know for sure until we see MJD play on Sunday. However, waiting until next Tuesday to pick up Jennings may prove to be too late. Pick up Jennings now and keep him on your bench for a few weeks while you continue to monitor MJD’s play. If you feel confident by week 4, drop Jennings and use the vacant roster spot for your bye week pick-ups. You may never end up needing to use Jennings, but its better to be safe than sorry, and he could prove to be an absolute steal should he end up getting playing time.