Ready to rebound: Eddie Lacy is ready to
rumble as he kicks of his turnaround season against the Jags.
Grab a Helmet
Eddie
Lacy @ JAX: From overrated to fantasy bum to fat camp
to underrated in 12 short months. That, in a nutshell, is the
latest installment of the Eddie Lacy story. I wasn’t as high on
him as others last year, despite my Packer proclivities, but even
I couldn’t have guessed how hard the big guy would fall, notching
110 fewer points than he did in 2014. You heard it here first,
gang: Unless he’s injured this season or loses his personal trainer’s
digits, there’s no chance the Pack’s bell cow will repeat that
disappointing performance in 2016. OK, poor choice of words there.
Look, there aren’t many sure things at the running back spot suddenly,
and you could do a lot worse than a big, durable back with pass-catching
chops and, arguably, the game’s best spin move. Start Lacy from
the outset and expect bigger things this coming season.
DeAngelo
Williams @ WAS (Monday):Le’Veon
Bell is one of the surest things when he’s suited up in Pittsburgh
black and gold, but that won’t be the case for the first of Monday
night’s twin bill in our nation’s capital. Enter the next best
thing, Steelers super sub DeAngelo Williams. All Williams did
in relief of the suspended and then injured Bell in 2015 was tally
1,274 yards from scrimmage, 11 scores, and 193.4 points, the second
highest fantasy tally of his career. Did I mention he did all
this in his tenth professional season, when most running backs
are collecting pension checks instead of touchdowns? There can’t
be too much left in that tank, but we don’t need a lot. We only
need three games worth of vintage Williams to see us through until
Bell’s return from (another) suspension. Start him against a susceptible
‘Skins front seven this Monday.
Carlos
Hyde v. LA (Monday): Monday night’s JV game features
the relocated Rams against their NorCal neighbors, the 49ers,
at Levi’s Stadium. Only those East Coasters who still have fantasy
skin in the game are likely to stay up for this late show and
that can only mean they’ll be rooting for Todd
Gurley or Carlos Hyde. You’re already starting Gurley (who
isn’t?) but Hyde’s causing some hesitation as he’s still, at press
time, in the league’s concussion protocol. I wouldn’t read much
into it. San Fran only kept three RBs on the roster during final
cuts and that’s a good sign their meal ticket will be ready to
roll. I think we’ll like what he can do in Chipper’s offense,
especially if he can become a threat on passing downs. Make sure
he’s on track to play when you set your Sunday lineups and then
put him in there.
Grab a Gatorade
C.J.
Anderson v. CAR (Thursday): “Get ready for the Broncos’
boring new offense,” read the Denver Post this week. Wait, more
boring than last year’s version? Consider me one NFL fan/fantasy
aficionado hoping desperately that Denver’s Super Bowl blueprint
– otherworldly defense and just enough offense – won’t be widely
emulated across the league. I don’t think my eyes could take it,
frankly. Anderson’s allegedly the centerpiece of Gary Kubiak’s
more conservative scheme, despite rumors he’ll split carries with
rookie Devontae
Booker. He might very well, but not at the outset…and I still
don’t think it will matter Thursday. Carolina’s front might be
the best in the game now that Denver has suffered some defensive
defections and they’ll be daring surprise starter Trevor
Siemian to beat them all evening. He just might if the retooled
Panthers secondary isn’t up to the task, but Anderson won’t get
a chance to provide much help.
DeMarco
Murray v. MIN: I doubt you need another reminder fantasy
fortunes change fast (I remind you every August), but here’s another
cautionary tale. Two seasons ago, Murray was the toast of the
NFL, rushing for 1,845 yards, adding 416 more through the air,
and scoring 13 times on his way to 300-plus fantasy points, most
at his position. Last year, he tallied fewer than half that (144.1),
even suffering a demotion during the last several weeks despite
being completely healthy. Was it Murray or the coach he played
for and the system he played in? We might not know until we see
him perform this year, but it may not matter. Know why? Derrick
Henry. Tennessee’s newest stud looks every bit the part of
a guy who could make Murray obsolete sooner rather than later,
especially near the goal line. Make DeMarco prove it to you again
before committing.
Jeremy
Langford @ HOU: Is any running back dividing opinions
more than Langford as we head toward Week 1? On one side are those
folks who apparently only watched the Bears from Weeks 9 through
11 last year, when the Michigan St. product averaged over 20 points/game
filling in for the injured, and now departed, Matt
Forte. On the other are those who can’t get past Langford’s
dubious analytics (poor yards/carry, few yards after contact,
high drop rate) and question his ability to carry Chicago’s load.
Count me among this latter group, especially if you factor in
John Fox’s propensity for sharing the backfield wealth. Langford
will probably post an occasional masterpiece, but he’s not good
enough to do it regularly and will bleed touches to more reliably
elusive players as the season wears on. Don’t expect one of those
masterpieces this Sunday against a top-notch Texans defense in
Houston.
