Lingering drain
Forsett, Lynch latest studs who need replacements
Usually it is fun to write about fantasy football. But this year, and especially lately, seeing my column logo may seem to be as welcome as visiting your dentist or getting a call from a bill collector.
“There’s Engel again, it must be bad news.”
It may appear that I am the guy you have to consult when bad news happens. That’s what this space has become, a regular location for doom and anguish.
like the dentist, I’m here to make you look and feel better, even if drilling into your team can be painful. In the end, you’ll still be smiling brightly.
This has been a season in which we’ve seen many top fantasy-draft picks either suffer major injuries or bust. This week brought more of the same. Baltimore’s Justin Forsett is done for the season, and seattle’s Marshawn lynch could be gone for the rest of the fantasy schedule. In another cruel twist, showing how agonizing this season has been, Charcandrick We s t , the replacement for fallen Kansas City superstar Jamaal Charles, now is in danger of missing time.
Forsett suffered a broken arm sunday, and now Javorius “Buck” allen will be Baltimore’s starting running back the rest of the year. The rookie totaled 115 yards from scrimmage against st. louis, displaying his versatility.
The Ravens also lost quarterback Jo e Flacco (knee) for the season this week and already were without receiver steve smith sr. and another rookie, Breshad Perriman, who never played a down. The depleted Ravens may give allen a lot of volume, as they want to ease any pressure on backup QB Matt schaub to carry t he offense, and see what they have in allen for the future. He has fa n - tasy RB2 appeal right away.
lynch, who had been historically durable during the seahawks portion of his career, missed his third game of the season this week with an abdomen injury. Initial reports have indicated lynch could miss the rest of the regular season if he needs sports hernia surgery.
undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls rumbled for 209 yards against the 49ers and should be your prime pickup over allen if he is available. Rawls has proven to be an excellent fill-in for lynch — he already has three 100plus yard rushing performances and he caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown sunday. The running game is a known centerpiece of the seattle offense and Rawls will be a key performer as seattle attempts to secure a NFC wild-card berth.
West, who had emerged as a top-five fantasy RB in place of Charles, suffered a strained hamstring and his outlook for Week 12 is unclear. spencer Ware ran for 96 yards and two TDs in relief and should be waiver priority No. 3 at RB. He is undecorated as a pro, as he was cut loose by seattle last year and even the Chiefs in september. But he did flash impressively a gai nst t he Chargers and already vaulted Knile Davis on the depth chart, so take the flier, especially if you own West.
These latest RB injuries should be a reminder to you that it’s essential to roster the NFL backups to your top running backs at this critical time of the fantasy year. Cut loose the type of guys you have been stashing and will not start as you angle for the fantasy postseason.
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