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Bye Weeks: Arizona, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, N.Y.
Giants, San Francisco
Grab a Helmet
Zac
Stacy v. TEN: I’ve been pretty slow to embrace the Rams’ new
rock toter and that’s primarily because A) he plays for the Rams,
and B) I’ve wondered how good he can be if he failed to beat out
Daryl Richardson in training camp. In other words, I’m deeply,
doubly suspicious of Rams who can’t beat out fellow Rams. Stacy,
of course, has rendered those concerns moot of late (and Richardson
a virtual afterthought) by rushing for over 250 yards on 61 carries
his last three games, making him the twelfth most productive rusher
in the league during that span. His most impressive feat, of course,
was gashing the vaunted Seahawks to the tune of 134 yards on Monday
night. The former Commodore missed most of the final drive, unfortunately,
thanks to an ankle injury, but if he’s not ruled inactive for
this Sunday’s game with Tennessee, you should probably start him
with confidence.
It's tiime to say something nice about
Ryan Mathews.
Ryan
Mathews @ WAS: I haven’t always had nice things to say about
San Diego’s #1 running back, but you should know I spent my very
first pick on him back in 2010, mainly because I thought he could
be what’s becoming a dying RB breed, the every-down back. Theoretically,
he still could be (and was in 2011), but several seasons of uneven
production, frustrating injuries, and poor ball security have meant
lowered expectations for me and the Chargers’ brass. Mathews is
now the #1 guy in name only, rarely contributing in the passing
game and earning only two-thirds of the Chargers’ carries (Danny
Woodhead gets the rest and almost all the passing game targets).
Does that mean Mathews is worthless? Far from it. Through eight
weeks, he’s still healthy (knock on noggin) and ranked #22 amongst
running backs. That’s RB2 territory and he should be an automatic
start against Washington’s abominable defense.
Eddie
Lacy v. CHI: I told you last week he’d touched the Wilson more
than any other running back the past three weeks. Make that the
past four weeks. Lacy earned an almost unheard of 29 carries in
the Pack’s Sunday night stomping of the Vikes and converted them
into 94 yards and his third professional touchdown, a performance
that caused Jared Allen to ask the following question: “When do
the Green Bay Packers rush for 200 yards?” Not on Sunday night,
you big whiner, but they were danged close. Green Bay might actually
hit that mark this Monday night against another divisional foe,
Chicago, a team that isn’t faring very well against opposing rushers
(117.3 yards/game and 4.0/carry). If Aaron Rodgers has his way with
the Bears’ secondary early (he will), Lacy could see a whole bunch
more carries late in his Monday night debut (ditto). You can’t sit
this kid down right now.
Grab a Gatorade
Trent
Richardson @ HOU: You might hafta consider sitting this one
down, though. Lacy’s Heisman-winning predecessor in Tuscaloosa
hasn’t come close to meeting expectations since joining the Indianapolis
backfield and the only thing that might keep that trade from looking
like a complete disaster in the long run is if the Colts continue
their winning ways. More wins = lower draft pick for Cleveland
= less buyer’s remorse, right? Richardson’s struggles are especially
perplexing because the Indy passing game is humming right along,
meaning he should have plenty of holes to run through. If they’re
available, though, he sure isn’t finding them. Through four games
in Naptown, Richardson is averaging just a whisker over three
yards per tote. Meanwhile, his sidekick, Donald Brown, is averaging
almost six yards per rush behind the same line opening the same
holes. Yup, it’s a real head-scratcher. If you own Richardson,
it’s time to be officially worried.
Mike
James @ SEA: He was a hot waiver wire pickup prior to Week
8 once Doug Martin had been ruled out with a torn labrum. As is
often the case, however, fantasy GMs ignored the possibility that
running backs aren’t necessarily fungible. Martin made the ROY
short list in 2012 because he’s really talented. James isn’t as
skilled (hence, the reason he was a sixth-round draft pick) and
doesn’t have the benefit of operating in the same stable Tampa
offense Martin worked in most of last year. Even Martin was struggling
to do much since Mike Glennon assumed the reins this season, rushing
for fewer than three yards per carry in three games with the young
QB at the helm. A showdown with Seattle’s Seahawks doesn’t usually
improve anyone’s stock, so avoid all Bucs not named Vincent Jackson
in Week 9.
Ray
Rice @ CLE: There’s falling off the table because of one’s
age (see McGahee, Willis) and then there’s falling off the
table for reasons seemingly unknown. Rice belongs in this second
category. After four straight seasons of 200+ fantasy points and
13+ per game, the former All-Pro and current 26-year old has been
basically MIA, averaging a microscopic 2.8 yards/carry, good for
just 45th best amongst 46 qualifying backs. Number 46 on that
list? His teammate, Bernard Pierce. Clearly, something isn’t
right with the Baltimore running game right now and facing a better-than-average
Cleveland front probably isn’t the best way to remedy it.
If you nabbed Rice with a high-round draft pick, it might be time
to consider cutting bait and taking what you can get for him.
I drafted C.J. Spiller so don’t feel too bad.
Wide Receivers 
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