This is the time of the year I am going to stress rostering as many of the handcuff running backs listed below as possible. Blake Corum will be a popular pickup this week after filling in for a limited Kyren Williams in Week 13. If you need a bye-week fill-in at receiver or tight end, grab one of the players below. Otherwise, stash a handcuff running back in the event of an injury instead.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans: The rookie has settled into the WR2 role after reeling in five passes for 65 yards against the Colts on Sunday. Higgins has had at least five targets in five of his last six games and has finished no worse than WR33 in those five games. The Texans are one of those teams getting hot at the right time, and Higgins is getting enough looks to be FLEX-worthy.
Adonai Mitchell, WR, New York Jets: This is for the truly desperate, as I am reluctant to rely on the Jets’ offense. Mitchell was buried on the depth chart with the Colts, but the Jets are giving him an opportunity to showcase his talent. Mitchell has seen consistent targets since being traded to New York, highlighted by 12 targets against the Falcons on Sunday.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Strange has made an instant impact since his return from injury last week. He had three receptions for 45 yards and his first touchdown of the year against the Titans on Sunday. Strange has finished as TE3 and TE5 the last two weeks and has high upside the rest of the season.
Top Handcuffs (Rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues)
Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco 49ers
Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
Emanuel Wilson, RB, Green Bay Packers
Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles
Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins
Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
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