Green Bay finally finds its back

By Gus Bode

The Packers had to go though their first three running backs on their depth chart this year to finally find someone to be productive. Through two games getting majority of the carries, Samkon Gado has had 165 yards rushing and four total touchdowns. All-pro running back Ahman Green did not have one touchdown while starting five games in the beginning of the year.

Gado started the year on the practice squad, but because of injuries to everyone and their mother, Gado has been given an opportunity. Gado has been putting up great numbers in the short time as starter, but I am not sold on him yet. Gado has seen a lot running space because defenses have been allowing it. No defense respects him because he is an unknown. The last two games defenses have just been trying to stop Brett Favre and the passing game. Now with two good games, Gado is no longer an unknown. Defenses will now have a closer eye on Gado and the running game.

No more splitting for Johnson

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Chiefs running back Priest Holmes is hurt for the remainder of the year.

Back up Larry Johnson will now be getting all the carries and all the passes out of the backfield. Johnson was already a decent fantasy player, and with Holmes injured, Johnson has become a must-start every game.

Even while splitting time, Holmes was still having a decent year. Holmes averaged 17 carries a game for 64.4 yards. He had seven total touchdowns and one game of 100 yards receiving. That is a lot of production handed over to Johnson, who was also having a good year. Since Johnson has taken over as the lone back, Holmes has hardly been missed. In the last two games, Johnson has averaged 4.9 yards a carry, while rushing for a total of 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Rams’ offense back to health

Essentially the entire Rams offense returned from injuries last week against Seattle. Starting quarterback Marc Bulger and starting receiver Torry Holt both had missed the last two games, and other starting receiver Isaac Bruce had missed the last five games. When Holt and Bruce were injured, receiver Kevin Curtis picked up the slack and became a good fantasy player.

Curtis has been as consistent a receiver as anyone in the league since injuries have plagued his teammates. He never had less than 63 yards receiving in the five-game stretch Bruce was gone. In that same time, Curtis had four touchdowns.

Even though the Rams’ big-name receivers are back, don’t give up on Curtis just yet.

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Last week, in their first game back, neither Bruce nor Holt looked to be 100 percent. Bruce only had one reception for 16 yards, and Holt only had four receptions for 45 yards. Curtis still led the receivers with six receptions for 51 yards. Curtis should still be a number three or four receiver in fantasy, especially the next two games when the Rams play Arizona and Houston.

Boller to rescue offense

Ravens’ quarterback Kyle Boller returned to the starting lineup last week against the Jaguars. Boller got hurt in the first game of the year and was replaced by Anothony Wright. In Boller’s first game back, he definitely struggled. But before you ignore the value of his return, keep in mind it was his first game back in eight weeks, and he was playing the first ranked passing defense of the Jaguars.

Boller has not proven to be a star in this league but has proven to have a better arm than his back up. In seven games, Wright surpassed 230 yards passing just once. Under Wright, the entire Ravens’ offense suffered. Receiver Derrick Mason, tight end Todd Heap and even running back Jamal Lewis are all on pace to have one of their worst seasons. All these weapons are usually fantasy football studs.

With Boller back, the Ravens should be able to move the ball easier.

Boller, however, is not someone worth picking up. He is not the smartest or most accurate, but because he has a rocket of an arm, defenses will have to spread out to defend the deep ball. Boller will simply help his teammates be more productive.

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