Sorry, no Week 12 recap, I've been too busy the past two days doing my Bob Vila impersonation and redoing my bathroom. To make it up to you, I offer this help in repairing your broken fantasy team:
Is it just me, or is it getting harder and harder to find two able-bodied running backs to fill out your starting lineup on a weekly basis?
Think about it. In any given season you’re going to have a few season-ending injuries (see Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams), and you learn to accept it and move on. Sometimes we hardly even get a glimpse of the guy (Priest Holmes, Ricky Williams) before he flares out as quickly as he announced his comeback.
And then you have the nagging injuries that seem to sap your stars of their strength week after week and drive you crazy with all the “questionable” tags and the dreaded “game-time decision” kiss of death. Rudi Johnson, Shaun Alexander, Laurence Maroney, Travis Henry and LaMont Jordan have spent more time on the injury report than in the end zone – they’ve combined for nine TDs, or as many as Minnesota Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson has scored this year.
The latest running back to go down is the Chicago Bears’ Cedric Benson. OK, maybe he wasn’t Gayle Sayers, but at least Benson was a warm body you could insert into your lineup with a reasonable expectation of about 60 yards or so and a touchdown if you were lucky. The good news is with the underachieving Benson out of the way, the “other” Adrian Peterson has a chance to shine. Peterson should have little trouble eclipsing Benson’s mediocre numbers – he’s a more explosive back, he catches passes, and unlike Benson, his teammates and coaches like him. Grab him while you can.
Here’s an update on some other injury situations:
• The Denver Broncos backfield has always had a revolving door, but this year’s turnover has been especially high – emphasis on high thanks to Henry’s potential drug suspension, which could come at any day. Henry’s also been hampered by injury, and so have talented backups Selvin Young and Andre Hall. The bottom line is you must monitor Denver’s practice reports carefully this week – whoever’s healthy enough to play is in line for a big day against the wet paper towel known as the Oakland Raiders’ run defense.
• The New York Giants’ backfield has become almost as muddled thanks to another injury for stud Brandon Jacobs, who’s likely to sit again in Week 13. Reuben Droughns is Jacobs’ steady if unspectacular replacement, but he could be sharing carries this week with Derrick Ward, who’s also working his way back from injuries. If healthy, Ward is a better option against the Chicago Bears as he’s more apt to break off a big run or two.
• The chances of Larry Johnson returning from his foot injury are looking dim, but rookie replacement Kolby Smith (150 yards, two TDs for last week's Hot Pickup!) looked LJ-esque in his first career start. Keeping in mind that came against the Raiders, Smith still looks like a decent option going forward.
• It’s not all bad news when it comes to injured running backs. First-rounders Steven Jackson and Frank Gore have been hurting most of the year, but they’re showing sings of life as we approach the fantasy playoffs. Gore had 20 carries for the first time since Week 2, and he also had a career high 11 receptions for 98 yards. Jackson went for over 70 yards and a TD, and should've had another to win the game if not for Gus Frerotte's incompetence. Both RBs have some favorable matchups down the stretch, and their respective coaches are figuring out their workhorse backs are their best options if they want to retain their jobs in 2008. If you've put up with them all season, it looks like that decision is finally paying off.
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