Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Zac Stacy is quickly becoming a fantasy football superstar, even if nobody knows it yet. The St. Louis Rams running back has quietly amassed 475 yards on just 103 carries this year (a 4.6 average per carry) and put up two straight 100-yard games. But more than that, he passes the eye test and just looks like an NFL rusher.
The fifth-round rookie goes hard and finishes every play with power, usually resulting in positive yardage. Better yet, he’s proving himself as a finisher, averaging 7.8 yards per carry in the fourth quarter this year.
The best part is that he has virtually no competition for the rushing workload in the Rams’ offense. His only other real backfield mate has been Daryl Richardson, the projected preseason starter who has failed in every opportunity to be the lead dog. Benny Cunningham got three carries last week with Richardson inactive, but did nothing with them. The only other guy the Rams have trusted to run the ball is quarterback Kellen Clemens, but he’s no real threat to Stacy getting fed a heavy workload.
Stacy has even picked up his receiving game, catching six of the seven passes thrown his way for 51 yards last week. Add to that his two rushing touchdowns, and you have yourself a sensational week that should only get better.
The Rams take on an Indianapolis Colts defense that has allowed 122 yards a game this year (fourth-worst in the league), and Stacy should end up right around the 26.5 carries he’s averaged the past two games. The news only gets better looking ahead to the fantasy playoffs, where the Rams have two home games in Weeks 15 and 16. Stacy averages an impressive 5.0 yards per carry on his home turf, more than a yard higher than his road totals.
He’s actually available in almost a third of ESPN leagues, which is absurd. If he’s still on the waiver wire, go pick him up now, and feel confident starting him without question for the near future and beyond.
