This is the 2017 Fantasy Football Handcuff Report.  In this article I will be listing the positional depth chart of the running back, wide receiver and tight end for all 32 NFL teams.  The purpose of this article will be to highlight players who could be pushing for more handoffs or targets in an offense and become useful additions to your fantasy roster.  I will highlight a few players each week that are making the biggest impact and I will be updating the grid as needed over the course of the season.

Running Backs

TeamRB1RB2RB3IR/PUP/Susp.
Arizona CardinalsDavid JohnsonKerwynn WilliamsAndre Ellington 
Atlanta FalconsDevonta FreemanTevin ColemanTerron Ward 
Baltimore RavensTerrance WestDanny WoodheadJavorius AllenKenneth Dixon
Buffalo BillsLeSean McCoyJoe BanyardMike Tolbert 
Carolina PanthersJonathan StewartChristian McCaffreyFozzy Whittaker 
Chicago BearsJordan HowardTarik CohenBenny Cunningham 
Cincinnati BengalsJeremy HillJoe MixonGiovani Bernard 
Cleveland BrownsIsaiah CrowellDuke JohnsonMatthew Dayes 
Dallas CowboysEzekiel ElliottDarren McFaddenAlfred Morris 
Denver BroncosC.J. AndersonJamaal CharlesDevontae Booker 
Detroit LionsAmeer AbdullahTheo RiddickZach Zenner 
Green Bay PackersTy MontgomeryJamaal WilliamsAaron Jones 
Houston TexansLamar MillerAlfred BlueD'Onta Foreman 
Indianapolis ColtsFrank GoreRobert TurbinMarlon Mack 
Jacksonville JaguarsLeonard FournetteChris IvoryT.J. Yeldon 
Kansas City ChiefsKareem HuntCharcandrick WestC.J. SpillerSpencer Ware
Los Angeles ChargersMelvin GordonBranden OliverAustin Ekeler 
Los Angeles RamsTodd GurleyMalcolm BrownJustin DavisLance Dunbar
Miami DolphinsJay AjayiDamien WilliamsKenyan Drake 
Minnesota VikingsDalvin CookLatavius MurrayJerick McKinnon 
New England PatriotsMike GillisleeRex BurkheadDion Lewis 
New Orleans SaintsMark IngramAdrian PetersonAlvin Kamara 
New York GiantsPaul PerkinsShane VereenOrleans Darkwa 
New York JetsMatt ForteBilal PowellElijah McGuire 
Oakland RaidersMarshawn LynchDeAndre WashingtonJalen Richard 
Philadelphia EaglesLeGarrette BlountDarren SprolesWendell Smallwood 
Pittsburgh SteelersLe'Veon BellJames ConnerTerrell Watson 
San Francisco 49ersCarlos HydeMatt BreidaRaheem Mostert 
Seattle SeahawksEddie LacyThomas RawlsC.J. Prosise 
Tampa Bay BuccaneersJacquizz RodgersCharles SimsPeyton BarberDoug Martin
Tennessee TitansDeMarco MurrayDerrick HenryDavid Fluellen 
Washington RedskinsRobert KelleyChris ThompsonSamaje Perine 

Top Handcuffs

Tevin Coleman, ATL- Coleman and starter Devonta Freeman share the backfield in Atlanta with Freeman getting most of the early down work and Coleman typically used in passing situations or as a change of pace back.  Coleman is immediately useful in PPR formats but those in standard leagues should take notice as well given Freeman’s injury history and the fact that he has already suffered a concussion during the preseason.

Derrick Henry, TEN- Henry is likely the most notable handcuff to own heading into this season as many expect his role to expand in the offseason with the potential that he overtakes starting running back DeMarco Murray.  As a rookie in 2016 Henry rushed for 490 yards and five touchdowns while adding 13 catches for 137 yards in the passing game.

Joe Mixon, CIN- Jeremy Hill might be listed as the No.1 running back in Cincinnati for the time being but rookie Joe Mixon figures to take over that role quickly given his playmaking ability and the fact that the Bengals used a second round pick on the talented back this offseason.  Hill will likely continue to see goal line touches but Mixon is the man to own in this backfield.

Rex Burkhead, NE- By all accounts Mike Gillislee figures to be the Patriots lead running back this season but injuries during training camp have set Gillislee back and head coach Bill Belichik was quoted as saying he still had a lot to prove while he got up to speed with the New England offense.  Burkhead looked good this preseason and many Patriots fans will liken him to Danny Woodhead who while in New England was an underappreciated ball carrier and a great receiving back.  Burkhead could steal early down work from Gillislee given his well-rounded skillset.

 

Wide Receiver

TeamWR1WR2WR3IR/PUP/Susp.
Arizona CardinalsLarry FitzgeraldJohn BrownJ.J. Nelson 
Atlanta FalconsJulio JonesMohamed SanuTaylor Gabriel 
Baltimore RavensJeremy MaclinMike WallaceBreshad Perriman 
Buffalo BillsJordan MatthewsZay JonesAndre Holmes 
Carolina PanthersKelvin BenjaminDevin FunchessRussell Shepard 
Chicago BearsKevin WhiteKendall WrightMarkus WheatonCameron Meredith
Cincinnati BengalsA.J. GreenBrandon LaFellJohn Ross 
Cleveland BrownsCorey ColemanKenny BrittSammie CoatesJosh Gordon
Dallas CowboysDez BryantCole BeasleyTerrance Williams 
Denver BroncosDemaryius ThomasEmmanuel SandersBennie Fowler III 
Detroit LionsGolden TateMarvin JonesKenny Golladay 
Green Bay PackersJordy NelsonDavante AdamsRandall Cobb 
Houston TexansDeAndre HopkinsBraxton MillerBruce EllingtonWill Fuller
Indianapolis ColtsT.Y. HiltonDonte MoncriefChester Rogers 
Jacksonville JaguarsAllen RobinsonMarqise LeeAllen Hurns 
Kansas City ChiefsTyreek HillChris ConleyAlbert Wilson 
Los Angeles ChargersKeenan AllenTyrell WilliamsTravis Benjamin 
Los Angeles RamsSammy WatkinsRobert WoodsCooper Kupp 
Miami DolphinsJarvis LandryDeVante ParkerKenny Stills 
Minnesota VikingsStefon DiggsAdam ThielenLaquon Treadwell 
New England PatriotsBrandin CooksChris HoganDanny AmendolaJulian Edelman
New Orleans SaintsMichael ThomasTed Ginn Brandon ColemanWillie Snead
New York GiantsOdell Beckham JrBrandon MarshallSterling Shepard 
New York JetsRobby AndersonJermaine KearseArDarius StewartQuincy Enunwa
Oakland RaidersAmari CooperMichael CrabtreeSeth Roberts 
Philadelphia EaglesAlshon JefferyTorrey SmithMarcus Johnson 
Pittsburgh SteelersAntonio BrownMartavis BryantEli Rogers 
San Francisco 49ersPierre GarconMarquise GoodwinAldrick Robinson 
Seattle SeahawksDoug BaldwinTyler LockettPaul Richardson 
Tampa Bay BuccaneersMike EvansDeSean JacksonAdam Humphries 
Tennessee TitansRishard MatthewsEric DeckerCorey Davis 
Washington RedskinsTerrelle PryorJamison CrowderJosh Doctson 

Top Handcuffs

J.J. Nelson, ARI- While the No.1 receiver job is on lock by Larry Fitzgerald there is a chance for Nelson to leap John Brown as the No.2 receiving option in Arizona.  In 2016 Nelson caught 34 passes for 568 yards and six touchdowns. Like Brown, Nelson is a big play threat as he averages 19.3 yards per catch over his two-year career with the Cardinals.  Carson Palmer still has a big arm and loves to throw deep so even as a No.3 receiver Nelson still has some value in deeper formats.  John Brown’s injury history and relative inconsistencies could have him on the outside looking in if he does not get off to a strong start to his season.

Danny Amendola, NE- The injury to Julian Edelman has opened the question as who in the Patriots passing attack has the most to gain from this injury.  Brandin Cooks is an obvious answer given that he is now the No.1 receiver on this team but many fantasy owners are now in a rush to grab Chris Hogan as the next man up in the Patriots offense.  While Hogan was solid last season as a deep threat for New England he plays on the outside whereas Edelman was the team’s slot receiver.  With that said I am a believer in Danny Amendola as the receiver with the most to gain from this injury.  In 2015 when Edelman got injured Amendola stepped in and averaged eight catches on 11 targets for 76 yards in his absence.  There’s a chance come Thursday that Amendola is actually the No.2 receiver in this offense and is likely floating around the wavier wire in your league.

Randall Cobb, GB- Injuries plagued Cobb in 2016 and they opened the door for Davante Adams to finally have his breakout season. Entering 2017 Cobb finds himself going much later in fantasy drafts than Adams and while neither can compete with Jordy Nelson for the No.1 receiver spot I do think there will be a battle for the No.2 role IF Cobb is capable of staying healthy as he lines up in the slot for Green Bay’s pass heavy offense.

 

Tight End

TeamTE1TE2TE3IR/PUP/Susp.
Arizona CardinalsJermaine GreshamTroy NiklasIfeanyi Momah 
Atlanta FalconsAustin HooperLevine ToiloloEric Saubert 
Baltimore RavensNick BoyleBenjamin WatsonMaxx Williams 
Buffalo BillsCharles ClayNick O'LearyLogan Thomas 
Carolina PanthersGreg OlsenEd DicksonChris Manhertz 
Chicago BearsZach MillerDion SimsAdam Shaheen 
Cincinnati BengalsTyler EifertTyler KroftC.J. Uzomah 
Cleveland BrownsRandall TelferSeth DeValveDavid Njoku 
Dallas CowboysJason WittenJames HannaGeoff Swaim 
Denver BroncosVirgil GreenJeff HeuermanA.J. Derby 
Detroit LionsEric EbronDarren FellsMichael Roberts 
Green Bay PackersMartellus BennettLance KendricksRichard Rodgers 
Houston TexansC.J. FiedorowiczRyan GriffinStephen Anderson 
Indianapolis ColtsJack DoyleDarrell DanielsBrandon Williams 
Jacksonville JaguarsMarcedes LewisBen KoyackJames O'Shaughnessy 
Kansas City ChiefsTravis KelceDemetrius HarrisRoss Travis 
Los Angeles ChargersHunter HenryAntonio GatesSean Culkin 
Los Angeles RamsTyler HigbeeGerald EverettDerek Carrier 
Miami DolphinsJulius ThomasAnthony FasanoMarQueis Gray 
Minnesota VikingsKyle RudolphDavid MorganBlake Bell 
New England PatriotsRob GronkowskiDwayne AllenJacob Hollister 
New Orleans SaintsCoby FleenerJosh HillMichael Hoomanawanui 
New York GiantsEvan EngramRhett EllisonJerell Adams 
New York JetsEric TomlinsonJordan LeggettWill TyeAustin Seferian-Jenkins
Oakland RaidersJared CookLee SmithClive Walford 
Philadelphia EaglesZach ErtzBrent CelekTrey Burton 
Pittsburgh SteelersJesse JamesVance McDonaldXavier Grimble 
San Francisco 49ersGeorge KittleGarrett CelekLogan Paulsen 
Seattle SeahawksJimmy GrahamLuke WillsonNick Vannett 
Tampa Bay BuccaneersCameron BrateO.J. HowardAntony Auclair 
Tennessee TitansDelanie WalkerPhillip SupernawJonnu Smith 
Washington RedskinsJordan ReedVernon DavisNiles Paul 

Top Handcuffs

Dwayne Allen, NE- In a surprising move the Colts traded Dwayne Allen to the Patriots this offseason where he will serve as top backup to the league’s top rated tight end in Rob Gronkowski.  Of course Gronks reputation around the league isn’t just for his incredible play on the field but also his unfortunate injury history that has cut short quite a few seasons with New England.  If Gronk goes down once again Allen becomes the No.1 tight end in a pass heavy offense.

Vernon Davis, WAS- After years of being an elite tight end for the 49ers Davis had seemingly disappeared from fantasy relevance during the 2014 and 2015 fantasy seasons but in 2016 he bounced back in Washington, thanks in part to the Redskins starting tight end Jordan Reed getting injury. Davis caught 44 passes for 583 yards and two scores last season and should Reed find himself injured once again in 2017 he will become a popular tight end to own given his TE1 upside.

David Njoku, CLE- The Browns drafted Njoku with the 29th pick in the first round this year but currently have the talented rookie listed as their No.3 tight end on the depth chart.  Given his immense upside I assume Njoku will eventually overtake the starting tight end role in Cleveland once he gets a bit more acclimated to their offense but until then he is just a player to have on your watch list.