There are really no statistics out there that indicate injuries are more prevelant in the National Football League this season than in the past, but it sure does seem that way. From lisfranc injuries and torn ACL's to broken bones in the legs and hamstring issues, there seem to be a ton of skill-position players currently either heading off for rehab (no not the type Aldon Smith is in) or preparing to return to the field after extended time off.
Today's article is going to look at these injuries through not only a skill-position and team-wide perspective, but from a fantasy football aspect as well.
Let's continue these series of articles with the all-important running back position...
Steven Jackson, Running Back, Atlanta Falcons
Jackson injured his hammy in Atlanta's Week 2 win against the St. Louis Rams and hasn't seen on-field action since. He was averaging six yards per attempt in the limited action he saw early in the season. Jackson and the Falcons are on a bye this week, but he expects to play Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It could be too little, too late for a team that has won just one of its first five games and sits four games behind the division-leading New Orleans Saints. Falcons' running backs are averaging just 3.6 yards per attempt with Jackson out of action. Not exactly the balance Matt Ryan and Co. were looking for at the start of the season.
Fantasy Impact
Jackson was being relied on as a consistent RB2 performer heading into the season. His days of being someone who could carry the ball 25-plus times per outing is surely over, but he still has something left in the tank. In all honesty, neither Jacquizz Rodgers nor Jason Snelling offer much of an upside at this point. Rodgers did put up two scores in Atlanta's Week 5 loss to the New York Jets, but he's averaging less than 3.5 yards per attempt and is attempting just 10 rushes per game. Once Jackson does return, likely Week 7, he's going to be nothing more than a FLEX option for the first couple weeks. Heading down the stretch, he could help you a great deal.
James Starks, Running Back, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay's running game has not missed a step with Starks out of action. Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin have combined for 4.7 yards per rush with the former getting a vast majority of the touches. Overall, Green Bay has a top-10 ranked rushing offense for the first time in forever. Well, at least since Ahman Green put up nearly 1,900 yards back in 2003. Unfortunately, this hasn't aided in the Packers' early-season efforts. They are 2-2 and in third place in the NFC North heading into a Week 6 showdown with the defending champion Baltimore Ravens. Having Starks, who is averaging 5.5 yards per rush, in action would be huge. Starks is officially out this week against Baltimore, but is expected to return next week.
Fantasy Impact
The Buffalo product had one great fantasy performance this season. That came against the Washington Redskins in Week 2. He put up 168 yards and a score in the winning effort. When on the field, Lacy has made a solid fantasy impact. He put up 72 total yards and a score against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 and 99 yards on 23 attempts against the Detroit Lions last week. Even when Starks returns, we can expect Lacy to get a bulk of the carries. He could, however, see his fantasy impact clouded a bit with Starks taking some carries from him. Despite averaging 6.5 yards per rush this season, Franklin is pretty much a non factor. His late-game fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 pretty much sealed his fate this season. In terms of dynasty leagues, I maintain my stance that Franklin is the best play after the 2013 season concludes.
Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
You have to feel bad for Bradshaw. Despite being riddled with injuries during his tenure with the New York Giants, Bradshaw was able to tough it out and suit up. This won't be the case in his first (and likely only) season with the Colts. Bradshaw suffered a neck injury against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve this past week. Needless to say, the addition of Trent Richardson in a trade with the Cleveland Browns after Week 2 is now absolutely huge for an impressive 4-1 Colts team. Giving added balance for Andrew Luck on offense will go a long way in making the Colts' offense one of the toughest to defend moving forward. With that said, the loss of Bradshaw is also huge hear. He was averaging 4.5 yards per attempt before the injury compared to the 3.0 average Richardson has put up since joining the Colts.
Fantasy Impact
Many were scrambling to pick Bradshaw up after his 111-yard, one-touchdown performance against San Francisco. Those who did were sorely disappointed when his neck injury turned out to be more severe than originally anticipated. Richardson now takes over full-time running back duties. As one of the top-five preseason running backs in fantasy football, the second-year player has done nothing but disappoint this season. He's our 17th-ranked running back through five weeks. An added work load coupled with more familiarity with the Colts' offensive scheme should help Richardson improve his weekly output moving forward. Take Bradshaw out of the equation, and he'll be fed the ball a lot.
Stevan Ridley, Running Back, New England Patriots
Even before going down to a knee injury in Week 4, Ridley wasn't performing up to par. Early-season fumble issues and an inability to repeat his production from last season led to Ridley getting benched at crucial times and averaging just 10 rush attempts per game. Overall, Ridley has seen his yards per carry average drop to under four. LeGarrette Blount took over in Ridley's stead and is averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer lost a key fumble last week in New England's first lost of the season and may very well be in Coach B's dog house at this point. With Ridley returning from his knee injury, you can expect him to get a bulk of the carries. Tom Brady and Co., still void of receiving options, will need him to step it up moving forward if they are going to outlast the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets (yes, I did just type that) in the AFC Est.
Fantasy Impact
Ridley's pedestrian performance on the field coupled with his knee injury has really set back a lot of fantasy owners, some of whom were relying on him as a bottom-tier RB1 option. Through the first five weeks of the season, the third-year player is our 52nd-ranked fanasy running back. Needless to say, that's just not going to get it done. Can he start to live up to expectations upon his return? That's the huge question for many fantasy owners. At the very least, he represents solid FLEX upside this week against the New Orleans Saints. As it relates to Blount, he's a non-factor fantasy player at this point. Which brings me to our next player in this article...
Shane Vereen, Running Back, New England Patriots
Remember when we were all looking at Vereen being a PPR stud? Yeah, that was about the time that Zach Sudfeld was going to be a TE1 option and Matt Flynn was going to beat out Terrelle Pryor for the Oakland Raiders' starting gig. How times have changed. Yet another injury set back, this time a wrist injury, cost Vereen the first five games of the season. He was placed in injured reserve with a designation to return prior to the start of the regular season. Vereen is available to come off IR after the Patriots Week 10 bye, it remains to be seen just how much of an impact he will be able to make. Without Vereen on the field, the Patriots have missed a huge receiving threat out of the backfield. Blount and Ridley have combined for three receptions this season.
Fantasy Impact
If you are in deeper leagues, I am pretty sure you went ahead and stashed Vereen on the bench. He provides too much upside as a receiver in New England for anyone to really consider throwing in the towel on this year. If Vereen is able to return in Week 11, he could provide a major spark to your fantasy team. Depending on how Ridley performs over the next five weeks, we could even be looking at Vereen being a major part of the Pats offense late in the fantasy season.
David Wilson, Running Back, New York Giants
In what seemed like a rather harmless neck injury at the time, if there is such a thing, it appears that the remainder of Wilson's season is in doubt. Doctors fear that he has a has a spinal stenosis condition that could possibly force him to have surgery. For his part, Wilson is hoping to be back by Week 7. Brandon Jacobs took over the Giants' regular running back duties and played extremely well in a losing effort to the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football. It is, however, unrealistic to expect him to perform at that level for the remainder of the season. Andre Brown broke his leg in New York's preseason finale and was place on injured reserve with a designation to return. He resumed running and is prepared to come back after the Giants' Week 10 bye. What might be too little, too late for the now 0-6 Giants, could actually help Brown make his name known in the final seven weeks of the season as their running back of the future. As it is, everything the Giants are playing for from here on out is for the 2014 season and beyond.
Fantasy Impact
Jacobs might have been fed two touchdowns against the Bears on Thursday, but no one can realistically expect him to be a fantasy producer moving forward this season. He's too slow, he's too old and the Giants' offensive line is just plain bad. In reality, the only possibly fantasy options on this offense have to be Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Myers. If you are relying on anyone else beyond that, I am sorry.
Darren McFadden, Running Back, Oakland Raiders
Welcome to DMC's yearly injury report. Like clockwork, the talented running back finds himself hampered with another injury before the mid-point of the season. McFadden came up limping after a hammy injury against the Washington Redskins in Week 4 and was out of action last week. He's questionable to play tomorrow against the Kansas City Chiefs, but expectations are that he'll sit that one out and aim to return after Oakland's Week 7 bye. Marcel Reece and Rashad Jennings combined for 98 total yards on 20 touches against the San Diego Chargers last week. They'll have to bring the same type of production to the table against an undefeated Chiefs team in Arrowhead. In addition, young quarterback Terrelle Pryor will have to rely on his running ability to beat NFL's top-ranked defense.
Fantasy Impact
Little to none. How many of you were really relying on McFadden to be a top-tier fantasy running back this season? Even in a pinch, there had to be more consistent RB1 options out there, say Frank Gore. As it is, neither Jennings or Reece are what you'd call decent starters at this point. Where Oakland's running game might be questionable, it could help Pryor and the likes of Denarius Moore have outstanding fantasy games until its backfield situation is cleared up.