Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy is in the middle of a nightmare season for a running back who was taken in the top few picks in fantasy drafts this season. Sunday might have been the worst of the nightmare, as Lacy had five carries for 10 yards in Green Bay’s 37-29 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and was basically benched after losing a fumble late in the first half.
Fantasy football waiver wire advice: James Starks supplants Eddie Lacy after fumble
The theoretical No. 1 in Green Bay had only one carry after a first-half fumble. We break down the fantasy implications.
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James Starks, who has had some big moments replacing Lacy this season, led the Packers in carries Sunday, though he had only 10 carries for 39 yards. Starks did catch six passes for 83 yards and a score, in a game the Packers trailed big and had to pass a lot to catch up.
Fantasy impact: At this point, you can’t possibly trust Lacy as a fantasy starter, but he’s still talented and involved enough that Starks is hard to trust as well. A Green Bay running game that was supposed to be a source of happiness for fantasy owners has become almost a stay-away.
But it isn’t a total stay-away. Both Starks and Lacy need to be owned in all leagues. If one or the other were to get the full commitment (at this point, Starks seems more likely), whether through strong performance or injury to the other, he’d be a must-start. Green Bay plays Detroit in Week 10. If you’re using one Packers running back, it’s Starks, but you aren’t excited about either.
