Green Bay Packers Fantasy Profile: Week 2
By Kenn Korb
Sep 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) is tackled by Chicago Bears outside linebacker Shea McClellin (50) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
RB – Eddie Lacy, James Starks
Last Week:
Lacy – 19 carries, 85 rushing yards, 2 catches, 14 receiving yards, 1 total TDs (1 rushing TDs); 15.90 fantasy points
Starks – 2 carries, 2 rushing yards; 0.20 fantasy points
After talking about the high hopes I had for Rodgers, we get to someone else who didn’t quite perform to the level I was hoping.
Lacy wasn’t as far off, however.
His 85 yards were decent, and the late TD that helped seal the game for good secured him a good fantasy week. Had there been more opportunities for another drive or two, his stats would also mostly be in-line with my favorable expectations going into the weekend.
That bulldozing power of his will be much-needed again here, both to provide balance to the offense and to impose a physical element onto the always-physical Seattle front.
The prospects don’t look great if you consider only the rushing defense displayed by Seattle; 26 carries for 76 yards for a 2.9 yard-per-rush average. Then again, remember who they were facing.
Not to take anything away from their own talents, but the Rams weren’t exactly fielding a high-potential attack to begin with. Their offensive line is mediocre at best and still highly unproven. Plus, the Rams’ top two running options (Todd Gurley and Tre Mason) weren’t even suited up; Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead may well be nice gentlemen, but good football players they are not.
Lacy is easily better than all of the names mentioned, save for possibly Gurley — someone we have no true idea about in terms of how he’ll really perform until he is healthy enough to hit the field. Lacy is also a bruiser, so he can take a pounding while dishing one out himself.
A good performance is necessary, but in this case he doesn’t necessarily need a huge game to have a good performance. If he can garner around the same yardage he did against Chicago at around 4-plus yards a pop, things should bode well for the Packers.
As for Starks, he didn’t see much time this past week, garnering only 2 carries. I think he may see more this time around to give Lacy a break, but I doubt it’ll be enough for fantasy consideration.
Week 2 Prediction:
Lacy – 75 rushing yards, 15 receiving yards, 1 Total TDs; 15.00 fantasy points
Starks – 20 rushing yards; 2.00 fantasy points
Verdict: Startable (Lacy); High-Risk, No-Reward (Starks)