Adrian Peterson & Chester Taylor

There is no bigger handcuff in 2008 than Chester Taylor. If you own both Chester and AD, you are almost guaranteed top three production at your RB1 slot in 2008. LaDainian Tomlinson may have one of the easiest rushing schedules this season, but I’ll take Adrian Peterson every time if Chester is also on my roster!

Willis McGahee & Ray Rice

After Taylor, the most valuable back-up in fantasy football has to be Ray Rice. What does Cam Cameron have to do to prove that he is the best of the best in terms of running a successful ground attack. He helped Tomlinson emerge into the elite and he just proved his genius in Miami last season, where he turned Ronnie Brown into a top two fantasy running back. Brown was in a class all by himself all the way up until his mid-season ACL tear — Cameron is an offensive mastermind and that will be proven yet again via the McGahee/Rice combo. Who will start more? Obviously we feel McGahee will, but we can offer no guarantees about his knee, nor would we offer any guarantee about any runner staying healthy… What I do feel comfortable predicting is that McGahee/Rice is the cheapest way to get yourself first-round talent in 2008. McGahee is falling into the third-round, which is gold when you guarantee yourself Rice. Where do you take Rice in 2008? Grab him in the sixth-round this year to be safe! Seem high? Well, it is reaching a bit, but we suggest that fantasy owners don’t take any chances, because the combo is a MUST. If you have already drafted, go get him! Not sure what to give up? Get on our FFX Forums and get some advice!

Willie Parker & Rashard Mendenhall

Anyone who frequents FFX knows how much I like Rashard Mendenhall for the future, but I will admit that Willie Parker looks fully healthy and ready to rumble entering this upcoming fantasy season. That Pittsburgh offense is going to be extremely dynamic in ‘08 and defenses are going to have a tough time monitoring the run. Parker/Mendy could prove to be one of the best RB2 bargains this season. In one league, I drafted Parker in the 4th-round and then got Mendy in the 7th-round. Yea, it cost me two picks to secure my RB2 slot, but because I was able to wait until the 4th-round before I started piecing that combo together, I was able focus on other positions early on and ended up with a line-up of:


Ben Roethlisberger, Frank Gore, Willie Parker, Braylon Edwards, Marques Colston, Jerry Porter, Vernon Davis


Now that’s a line-up!

If Parker suffers injury for any reason in 2008, Mendy could produce top 10RB numbers per start.

Chad Johnson & Chris Henry

It’s rare to ever come across a must-have wide receiver handcuff, but that scenario is here. Chad Johnson, or officially Chad “Ocho Cinco” [ according to reports ], is potentially a top five wide receiver in 2008, yet his partially torn labrum in his shoulder could put him on the shelf at any moment. The solution? Draft Chris Henry. Henry is suspended for the first four games of the 2008 regular-season, but upon his return, he could put up top 15-20WR numbers per start even if Ocho Cinco is still in that Bengals’ line-up — Henry is that good. He is WR3 material for fantasy owners even playing as the Bengals’ third wide receiver. Now, if Ocho Cinco’s shoulder pops out again, he would reportedly be done for the season and you’d probably see Chris Henry explode. Handcuffing the two is a must and could guarantee you top 12WR numbers all season long (possibly more).

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