Who is Derrick Henry’s handcuff? After missing only two games in his first five NFL seasons, a foot injury meant Tennessee backups saw extensive in 2021. Dontrell Hilliard and D’Onta Foreman performed well in his absence but neither had the upside of Henry, who still managed ten touchdowns in eight appearances last season.
Speaking of Dontrell Hilliard, he is currently Derrick Henry’s handcuff, although the Tennessee Titans running back room isn’t as clear cut as that. He and Foreman split carries when Henry missed time and actually performed well, averaging 6.4 yards per carry while also hauling in 19 passes. Interestingly, Hilliard’s 19 receptions in eight games matches Henry’s career high of 19 catches in a season (he needed 16 games to hit that mark).
The Titans drafted Hassan Haskins in the fourth round with the Michigan running back built in a similar mold to Henry. He rushed for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns last season in college which makes him an interesting prospect.
Related: All you need to know about fantasy football handcuffs
Is Derrick Henry’s handcuff worth stashing?
If Henry is healthy, then no one else is seeing the field for any meaningful amount of time. Sure, the backups will receive some carries every once in a while, but not enough to be relevant in fantasy football.
So, what happens if Henry does get hurt? The breakdown of touches would probably be similar to what we saw in 2021. Foreman had 142 total touches (133 carries/9 receptions) to Hilliard’s 75 (56 carries/19 receptions). Haskins most likely steps into Foreman’s role, although the volume could be more evenly distributed.
Each one would be a viable play for running back needy teams. However, the ceiling is limited due to the workload split. And that is why neither Haskins nor Hilliard are must stash handcuffs. There is nothing wrong with rostering them, especially if you drafted Henry, but don’t feel as if you need to dedicate a roster spot for them.
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