Green Bay Packers: Week 14 Fantasy Profile

Dec 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back James Starks (44) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

RB – Eddie Lacy, James Starks

Last Game:
Lacy – 4 rushing yards, -3 receiving yards; 0.10 fantasy points
Starks – 15 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards; 6.00 fantasy points

We all know that Lacy ended up being basically benched last game due to missing curfew.

Dec 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) reacts during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. The Packers defeated the Lions 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Look, I get it. Losing track of time happens; just because he plays a sport and is paid tons of money doesn’t mean we shouldn’t allow him some level of understanding and room for error. But still, there must be repercussions just like anyone else would have at their jobs. It happened, he was reprimanded, and now we should all move past that.

In terms of good news, it seems the discipline has worked as the coaches planned, with Lacy apparently having a great week of practice so far.

To me, the only reason he didn’t get to have a third consecutive strong game was because of the reprimand; had he started and been given a high dose of carries like he received against Minnesota and Chicago, this would have been a much different game. He should be the happiest guy in that locker room for the win because of that. And he should also now have extra motivation to come out ready to rumble.

As stated earlier, Dallas may be rated decently in terms of simple yardage stats defensively, but they are worse than it would appear there. Even with the basic stats, they are only average against the run; in terms of DVOA, they are even worse. If Green Bay can commit themselves to running, I expect Lacy to do well.

As for Starks, he’s a threat to grab carries every game. He likely won’t do much with them apparently, but a decent dose will go his way. His contributions are much bigger in the screen game however; the usage of him in that aspect has been upped in recent weeks, unsurprisingly coinciding with the team slowly doing better as a whole on offense.

His work there could grab him a touchdown — something he should have had if not for a fumble last game — but at the least should garner him some yardage here and there while providing Aaron Rodgers a nice counter to blitzes and pressures from the Cowboys.

Week 14 Predictions:
Lacy – 85 rushing yards, 5 receiving yards, 1 TD; 15.00 fantasy points
Starks – 25 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards; 7.00 fantasy points

Verdict: Nice Recovery (Lacy); Backup Screen-catcher (Starks)

Next: Receivers