Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
After suffering a thigh injury in the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 2 matchup against the St. Louis Rams, veteran running back Steven Jackson will miss the team’s Week 3 showdown with the undefeated Miami Dolphins.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, Jackson’s injury might consume more than one week before he’s ready to return to the lineup.
“It’s short term,” Atlanta head coach Mike Smith said. “Don’t know if that’s two or three weeks.”
The worst case scenario appears to be Jackson returning for the Falcons after their Week 6 bye, but it could be earlier if rehab goes as planned.
Not only does this news severely hurt the Falcons’ chances this Sunday against the Dolphins, but it will infuriate fantasy owners who were hoping that Jackson would be a workhorse throughout the season. Instead of a reliable point provider, owners are now harboring an injury-prone running back who might not be back to full strength anytime soon.
The one bit of silver lining to this situation is that Jacquizz Rodgers suddenly becomes an intriguing waiver wire target. The Falcons’ punitive running back is now thrust into a starting role, and will be expected to handle the majority of the carries. On top of that, he’ll also contribute as a receiving threat out of the backfield.
Don’t be surprised, though, if running back/fullback hybrid Jason Snelling steals some of the goal-line touches – and Rodgers’ fantasy points.
It’s a painful loss for the Falcons and fantasy owners who were hoping to get some consistent production from the veteran ball-carrier. If you’re now in need of a running back to fill out your starting lineup, don’t overlook Rodgers as a sleeper option.
Gil Alcaraz IV is the Content Planner for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
