There’s always plenty of talk about running back handcuffs, but what about wide receiver handcuffs? It’s a much more convoluted subject when you shift to wideouts, because unlike running back touches, targets are earned, not given. That said, there are some rare cases where a WR may not have standalone value right now, but if someone in front of them on the depth chart misses time, they’re suddenly in a prime spot to become fantasy relevant.
Personally, I only really consider wide receiver handcuffs in good or great offenses. If the team can’t score, I don’t care who’s stepping into a bigger role. This article dives into a few pass catchers who are either being drafted late or not at all. These are players, I believe, who could matter for fantasy the moment a starter ahead of them goes down. And you can also check out our fantasy football rankings, including my best-in-show rankings from last year’s FantasyPros contest.
Pass Catchers to Stash in Fantasy
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
While the Bears haven’t proven to be a great (or good) offense just yet, it’s not hard to tell yourself the story of a major leap in 2025. Ben Johnson comes over from Detroit with a resume that speaks for itself. Caleb Williams enters Year 2 with a bolstered offensive line and a legit supporting cast. It’s genuinely tough to look at this setup and not see a breakout coming for the offense as a whole.
