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Fantasy Sports Fantasy Football

Why Arian Foster is the Key To Winning Your Fantasy Football League

By @bradberreman24

Arian Foster, Houston Texans, Fantasy Football

Thomas B. Shea-Getty Images

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster missed eight games in 2013 with a back issue, which helped make him one of the biggest risk/reward players at any position when draft time came this year. He was in line for a big workload under new head coach Bill O’Brien, so better health would put Foster in line to re-establish himself as top-tier fantasy running back.

Foster missed two games after Houston’s Week 10 bye with a groin issue, and he missed another game back in Week 3 with a hamstring issue. Other minor injuries have cropped up to limit his practice participation at times, but when Foster has been in uniform he has averaged exactly 20 carries per game with at least 17 touches in eight of the nine games he has played. Taking out Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he left the game early with the groin issue, and Foster has at least 23 touches in seven of the eight games he has finished.

Foster actually has a receiving touchdown in each of his last four games, and he has found the end zone in some fashion in seven of his nine games. That fits with his track record as a touchdown scorer, as he had 47 total touchdowns (41 rushing and six receiving) from 2010-2012.

Three of Foster’s final four opponents enter Week 14 in the bottom-10 of the league against running backs, with two matchups against the Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 14 and Week 17) and a road trip to take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. In Week 6 against the Colts Foster had 141 yards from scrimmage on 23 touches (20 carries and three receptions) with two rushing touchdowns, and he will surely be relied on as workhorse again in Week 15.

A tough matchup is coming for Foster in Week 16, with the Baltimore Ravens entering this week’s action allowing the fewest fantasy points (10.3 per game; ESPN scoring) and just 3.5 yards per carry to running backs. That will also be championship game week in a lot of leagues, but a tough matchup is not enough to keep Foster out of fantasy lineups. Another injury that has a chance to sideline him would obviously change things, but a big game from Foster against Baltimore can’t be ruled out. Add in three very favorable matchups surrounding that, at least in leagues that use Week 17, and if he can remain healthy Foster has a good chance to carry his fantasy owners right to a league title.

Brad Berreman is a Columnist at Rant Sports.com. Connect with him on Twitter or Google +. 

 

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