"Is it a LeGarrette Blount game, or a Dion Lewis game?"
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 10: LeGarrette Blount
The Patriots murky backfield situation leaves many to wonder if LeGarrette Blount can be a reliable option each week in fantasy leagues. We break down the fantasy implications.
That's the question fantasy owners found themselves asking each week about a Patriots team that can change its offense's identity at the drop of a hat. But in wake of Lewis' injury, Blount's owners find a little clarity to that situation.
Blount rushed for a season-high 29 carries in Week 9 in a game where Lewis dominated snaps until he left with his season-ending ACL tear. Brandon Bolden assumed Lewis' role in the backfield, although that will likely be taken by James White instead, going forward. Lewis earned a significant workload most weeks, adding an elusive element that White and Bolden don't provide themselves. As a result, the Patriots could opt for getting Blount involved a bit more than anticipated, since him competing with White and Bolden for snaps is vastly different than competing with Lewis.
Fantasy impact: The New York Giants 22nd-ranked run defense could be a bit overmatched this week, and it wouldn't come as a surprise if the Patriots attacked that weakness. As a result, expect Blount to be involved once again in the game plan, and fantasy owners can feel comfortable inserting him into lineups as a steady RB2 with scoring upside.
For the rest of the season, Blount ought to garner more week-to-week consideration as well, but matchups will have to be closely examined before fantasy owners make the decision to pen him into lineups.
