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Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has been a force for fantasy football owners, with over 90 rushing yards or a touchdown in eight of his last 10 games. But an ankle injury suffered last week against the Atlanta Falcons has kept him out of practice so far this week, and his status for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys is in doubt.
With a very favorable matchup coming, is there another Packers’ running back that could become a good option for fantasy owners?
When Lacy was sidelined by a concussion earlier in the season, James Starks had 34 carries for 187 yards and a touchdown (along with four catches for 36 yards) in Week 2 and Week 3 combined as the Packers’ lead back. As expected his role has been limited during Lacy’s emergence since the Packers’ Week 4 bye, with just 31 carries for 159 yards in that time, but Starks showed he can produce when given a notable workload.
The Cowboys enter Week 15 allowing the most fantasy points to running backs (22.6 per game, ESPN scoring), including the most receptions (94) and receiving yards (738) to the position as well as 4.8 yards per carry.
Lacy is expected to suit up for practice on Friday, and his official status will hopefully give his fantasy owners some clarity. A questionable declaration will obviously be troublesome, and any public comments from head coach Mike McCarthy or Lacy himself will no doubt be optimistic regardless of how the rookie running back is listed on the injury report. The Packers-Cowboys game is on the slate for 4:25 Eastern time on Sunday, so Lacy’s owners may be left with a difficult decision to make in a very crucial week.
Starks would immediately become a RB2 or flex option for Week 15 in 12-team leagues if there is serious doubt about Lacy’s status, with 20 or more touches a real possibility if Lacy is out and even if Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers plays. Starks’ ownership percentage is rising a bit in Yahoo! leagues (18 percent), as Lacy’s owners seek a potential fall back option, but any fantasy owner who has been hit by injuries at running back can consider adding him strictly on the possibility he’ll be startable this week.
Brad Berreman is a contributing writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradberreman24 or connect with him on Google +.
