Handcuffing in Fantasy Basketball

What is Handcuffing in Fantasy Basketball?

In fantasy football, "handcuffing" involves drafting a star player and their backup to protect your lineup in case of injury. While less common in fantasy basketball, this strategy can still be highly effective when used wisely.

The Dynamics of Handcuffing in Fantasy Basketball

Handcuffing is particularly useful in fantasy leagues with larger benches and deeper roster sizes. Larger bench sizes more accurately reflect today’s NBA and make for a better fantasy experience, a concept championed by Josh Lloyd with his leagues. With more roster spots available, you can carry both star players and handcuff players, offering greater flexibility and protection. The word ‘handcuff’ has a broader definition in basketball than it does in football, as you will read below, because there are multiple ways in which a player can fall under ‘handcuff’ status. Wherever possible, you want to look for players who provide standard league adjacent value even in reserve roles, so you can still maximize that roster spot.

When Handcuffing Works in Basketball:

Injury-Prone Stars: If you have a star player prone to injuries, like Joel Embiid, consider drafting their backup, Andre Drummond. If you want to get spicy and make a ‘galaxy brain’ move, you might draft the backup of a star player from another team. For instance, if your opponent drafts Embiid, you could select Drummond. If Embiid misses games, your opponent loses out on both Embiid's production and Drummond’s valuable stats, giving you a significant advantage.

Weak Depth at a Position: Teams with limited depth at a position can benefit from handcuffing. For example, Chicago's center depth behind Nikola Vucevic is weak, making Jalen Smith a valuable handcuff player.

Emerging Players: Watch for backups or emerging players who might break out, such as rookies or second-year players not starting initially. Last year, Brandon Miller provided value when he eventually earned a starting role. This year, a player like Donovan Clingan could offer potential value if a trade involving DeAndre Ayton occurs.

Sixth Man Option: Key bench players who can step into multiple positions and provide significant stats if starters are out are also valuable. For example, Vince Williams Jr. in Memphis can play multiple positions and step up if any of the starters (excluding the center) are unavailable, making him a useful handcuff.

Bottom Line

As with any strategy, you want to be mindful of your league settings, dynamics, and eventually your position in the league as well from a standings perspective, when deciding whether or not to hold ‘handcuff’ players. Even in situations wherein you find it hard to draft ‘handcuff’ players based on the situations above, being mindful of them could give you the edge in making waiver wire pickups as well. While handcuffing isn’t as crucial in basketball as in football, when used properly, it can be an effective strategy in fantasy basketball, and potentially a game-changer in your leagues!

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