It didn’t take long for Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy to remind his fantasy owners that they should have handcuffed him with James Starks. Lacy, whose bruiser running style makes him susceptible to injuries, suffered another concussion on Thursday night. The concussion is his second in 18 career NFL games.
Even before Lacy went down, Starks got a handful of touches and looked impressive with them. He carried the ball seven times for 37 yards and caught two passes for 11 yards. For whatever reason, he seemed to be more effective (5.3 yards per carry) than Lacy, who carried the ball 12 times for just 34 yards (2.8 YPC).
While it’s hard to draw any conclusions against a dominant Seattle Seahawks defense, it’s obvious Starks needs to be rostered in most fantasy formats. Lacy is far more talented and has a higher ceiling, but his latest concussion is a major concern. The former Alabama star appeared to suffer the head injury while running through Seahawks safety Earl Thomas.
Lacy, who is not very fast, is most effective when he runs through tackles. The question now becomes if his body can hold up to his running style. It’s quite possible Lacy could be cleared by next weekend and still be leaned on as Green Bay’s workhorse, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Packers coach Mike McCarthy started giving Starks more snaps in an attempt to keep Lacy healthy. And if Lacy misses any time, Starks would get the bulk of the carries in a fantastic offense. Pick him up as quickly as you can.
