–Which supporting back is worth adding to your team if the stud back you drafted high is out for any length of time?

The desirable handcuff back, a player fantasy owners should consider drafting in the late rounds, must meet one, if not both of the following criteria. The running back must be a productive player in their own right, and / or the offensive line in front of that back performs at such a high level, either due to talent or scheme (remember Mike Shanahan's Broncos of the Olandis Gary/ Mike Anderson days?), that the running game will excel regardless of who the ball is being handed off to.

Below is a list of the Non-RBBC (Running Back By Committee) ball carriers, aka “Stud” backs that remain in fantasy football and their immediate backup, known in fantasy circles as their Handcuff Back.  Let's discuss which ‘Cuff's you should make sure to get on your team (Good Handcuff), and which ones you can pass on (Bad Handcuff).

Chris Johnson     /      Javon Ringer       – TITANS

As fantasy football's No.1 back & overall player, Chris Johnson, will be the first pick in a large majority of fantasy drafts taking place this Summer. Should Johnson miss any length of time this season, it will severely hamper his fantasy owners, not only because he was their top pick, but that he's arguably the most dominant scoring force fantasy football has seen in quite some time.

Little-used, second-year back Javon Ringer is Johnson's backup. As a result of Johnson's durability, the Michigan State product barely saw the field in his rookie year, but when he did, he averaged 6.0 yards per carry (eight carries for 48 yards), and the coaching staff really likes him.  When Johnson threatened to holdout earlier this year, Jeff Fisher had no problem slotting Ringer in as the starter. Throw in the fact that Tennessee continues to possess one of the top offensive lines in the NFL, and fantasy owners could do a lot worse than having Ringer as their RB insurance policy.

Ringer: GOOD ‘CUFF

Adrian Peterson / Toby Gerhart –VIKINGS

Entering his fourth NFL season, Adrian Peterson hasn't missed a lot of games, despite his upright, hard-charging running style which leaves him vulnerable to big hits from head-hunting safeties and linebackers. But Peterson has been averaging over 300 carries per season (305), and the Vikings have become increasingly mindful of not letting their superstar back go the tired-legs way of Eddie George, hence the import of Brett Favre to improve the passing game, and the increased role of third-down back Chester Taylor, who left the Vikings this offseason for a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears.

The Vikings chose to replace the departed Taylor with 2010 second-round pick Toby Gerhart from Stanford University.  The 6-0, 230 pound bruiser with pass-catchers hands led the nation in rushing yards, touchdowns, and points scored while setting several Pac-10 and school records. Gerhart, a highly-sought after pro baseball prospect, carries a mature swagger about him that suggests he won't have much of an NFL rookie curve, and the role he is inheriting produced 44 receptions and 94 carries in 2009- making the first-year back a quality handcuff with upside.

Gerhart: GOOD ‘CUFF  

Maurice-Jones Drew / Rashad Jennings – JAGUARS

Maurice Jones-Drew saw his carries jump from 197 in 2008 to 312 in 2009, and he's missed only one regular season game in his career as he enters his fifth year in the NFL. Suffice to say, the job as Jones-Drew's backup is akin to one of those no-show union jobs Tony Soprano would get for members of his “family”. And Pocket Hercules is such a unique talent, he made a lot of his yards on his own, with little help from a lowly Jaguars offensive line, ranked in the bottom third of most lists- #24 on FFChamps O-line rankings.

Second-year back Rashad Jennings took over the role last year, and played well when given the chance, rushing for 202 yards and a touchdown on 39 carries, and grabbing 16 receptions for 101 yards. But that's hardly production you have to go out of your way to draft. You can pass on taking Jennings, unless the pickin's are really slim in the late rounds.

 Jennings: BAD ‘CUFF   

Michael Turner / Jerious Norwood & Jason Snelling –FALCONS

Starter Michael Turner had a disasterous 2009 season after suffering a high ankle sprain and then unwisely trying to play through it all season, which made him hurt the ankle more and his statistics plummeted from his career-high numbers in 2008.  Jerious Norwood is listed as Turner's backup on the Falcons depth chart, but if the last few seasons have given us anything, it is that Norwood will never capitalize on some wonderful physical talents, and that he will be consistently inconsistent, and miss a ton of games dues to injury.  Converted fullback Jason Snelling was the Falcons back that stepped forward and performed well in Turner's absence in 2009, rushing for 613 yards and four touchdowns on 142 carries, and adding 30 receptions for 259 yards and a score as a receiver. The Falcons offensive line is a good one, ranked in the top third of the league too, making Snelling the guy you draft in the late rounds.

Norwood: BAD ‘CUFF

Snelling:  GOOD ‘CUFF    

Steven Jackson / Kenneth Darby – RAMS

It is a testament to Steven Jackson's amazing talent that he remains a top ten back in fantasy football with as putrid a combination of supporting cast and offensive line that the league has maybe ever seen, and its been that bad for the last few years. Enter a rookie quarterback behind one of the worst offensive lines in football and the handwriting is on the wall for another heroic campaign to be conducted by Jackson all by himself. Jackson's backup? Someone named Kenneth Darby. Nuff said. No self-respecting fantasy owner who selected Jackson with their first pick should find themselves thinking about handcuffing Darby to their squad. If Jackson is out for any length of time this year, the Rams running game will disappear.

Darby: BAD ‘CUFF 

Ryan Mathews / Darren Sproles – CHARGERS

Though it remains to be seen if rookie first-rounder Mathews can hold up physically through his virgin NFL campaign, Norv Turner's expectation of Mathews is of the 250 carry, 40+ reception nature, making him a solid starting running back option for fantasy owners.  But Sproles is a proven veteran, who, despite his lack of height and overall size, is durable, productive and can score from anywhere on the field, recording 840 total yards, 45 receptions, and seven touchdowns last year. The expected loss of Pro Bowl left tackle Marcus McNeill due to contract holdout will hurt both backs production this season, but Sproles is still a wise handcuff move.

Sproles: GOOD ‘CUFF

Frank Gore / Glen Coffee –     49ERS

After a great preseason showing in 2009, Coffee turned into decaf once the regular season started, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry and finding the end zone once.  Despite the encouraging improvement to their offensive line in the form of two large, first round picks, left tackle Anthony Davis and left guard Mike Iupati, Frank Gore is a workhorse and opportunities in this role will be limited.  If Gore does have to sit, Coffee may have to cede goal line carries to 2010 sixth-round pick Anthony Dixon (6-0, 233) or veteran Michael Robinson.  Coffee is not worth drafting, even late.

Coffee: BAD ‘CUFF 

Rashard Mendenhall / Mewelde Moore- STEELERS

Mendenhall is right on the doorstep of fantasy stardom in 2010, and he should realize his potential this season, especially with the Steelers having to lean on the running game during what now appears to be a four-game, personal conduct absence of Ben Roethlisberger.  Mewelde Moore is a proven, capable veteran entering his seventh NFL season, who can step in for an injured Mendenhall (whose 2009 rookie season was ended in week four against Baltimore when Ray Lewis broke his shoulder), and run behind a big offensive line that just added Flozell “the Hotel” Adams (Cowboys) at left tackle.

Moore: GOOD ‘CUFF

Ryan Grant /Brandon Jackson-      PACKERS

Ryan Grant is a workhorse, having not missed a game in two years, and averaging 323 carries per season over that span, leaving not much on the table for his backup and occasional stand-in, Brandon Jackson who struggled with ankle and shoulder injuries which limited him to 12 games played, and a total of 37 carries and 21 receptions in 2009. The Packers drafted running back James Starks (University of Buffalo) in the sixth round of the 2010 Draft and head coach Mike McCarthy is high on the 6-2, 218 pound back. Starks should come off the Physically Unable to Perform list by the start of the season and could challenge Jackson for playing time behind an improved Green Bay offensive line. With Grant being as durable as he has been the last two years, and now the rookie Starks is in the picture, there is no need to spend a draft pick on Jackson.

Jackson: BAD ‘CUFF 

Knowshon Moreno / Correll Buckhalter- BRONCOS

Knowshon is hurt again. This time it's a significant hamstring pull that is likely to keep him on the sideline until week one. A knee injury suffered by the former University of Georgia star had ruined what could have been a great first season in 2009.  Correll Buckhalter makes an ideal handcuff as a 10-year veteran who knows the Denver offensive system, but he has had trouble staying healthy historically, and he just suffered an upper back pull last week. Denver, sensing Buckhalters age (32), and injury history, just signed troublesome Lendale White (recently released by Seattle for dubious reasons), further muddying the Broncos backfield waters.  If Moreno and Buckhalter can return to 90% or better health-wise for the start of the season, Buckhalter is a decent option toward the end of your Draft, as the Broncos offensive line, which still waits on a return date for Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady (knee), is one of the better blocking units in the league. White has to prove himself in the preseason after a horrible stay in Seattle that saw his former college coach, Pete Carroll show him the door rather quickly after all but gift-wrapping the starting job for the former Titan.

Buckhalter: GOOD ‘CUFF

White: TO BE DETERMINED

Cedric Benson / Bernard Scott –    BENGALS

After missing four games in 2007 and four games in 2008, Cedric Benson made it through a full 16-game slate last year and a career-high 301 carries (next closest total was 214 in 2008). Benson's backup, Bernard Scott, a second-year back from Abilene Christian, has the size (5-10, 220) and speed/agility mix to excel behind an effective Bengals offensive line, led by RG Bobbie Williams and LT Andrew Whitworth. Even though Benson has shown a recent track record of consistent durability, he has had problems staying healthy since his days with the Bears, and Scott is a talent that could flourish in the Bengals run-first system if given the chance.

Scott: GOOD ‘CUFF

Jahvid Best / Kevin Smith-      LIONS  

As Lions training camp gets underway, The veteran Smith, last year's starter, has just been removed from the Physically Unable to Perform list but admittedly isn't 100% recovered from last season's torn ACL in his knee.  The rule of thumb for this type of injury is that it takes close to two years to fully recover, which is the primary reason the Lions traded up into the end of the first round to select Jahvid Best, the running back widely expected to capture the starting job for the Lions this season.  The Detroit offensive line is still weak, so it will be a challenge for either back, but  Smith is a scrapper who is currently listed as the starter, and Best has a pretty extensive injury history from his days at Cal-Berkeley, so in the Lions unique backfield situation, the starter could become the handcuff, and vice versa. We'll label Smith the handcuff for now due to Best's upside and the fact that he's the healthier of the two at this time.  

Smith: GOOD ‘CUFF