Kelley L Cox USATODAY Sports
The NFL concussion policy is predicated on holding a player out a week too long as opposed to not long enough, but after a week of rest, Eddie Lacy has reportedly been a full participant in practice this week and is a safe bet to start Sunday’s divisional showdown with the Detroit Lions.
With his availability not much of a concern for the Green Bay Packers, Lacy can once again be counted as an RB2 this week for your fantasy squad. The rookie recorded 15 touches for 72 yards and a TD against a stingy San Francisco 49ers defense in his first career game, a very positive first impression.
His ability to make the most of a dump pass in the flat (31 yards) was the biggest takeaway from that game for me, as the Packers tend to use a short pass game as a supplement to traditional running game.
While I am a believer in his overall talent, that’s not why I’m starting Lacy this week.
The Lions are surrendering 5.2 yards per carry and own by far the lowest carry per rushing touchdown rate (17.0) in all of football. They have allowed their opponent’s starting running back to score at least once in all four games this season, a trend that could continue this week as the Packers are well rested after their bye and will likely look to see if they can establish a physical tone in the early going.
Detroit tried as hard as they could to blow a 24-point lead last week against the Chicago Bears, being gashed by Jay Cutler through the air. I expect the Lions’ coaching staff to try to fix this flaw (breaking news, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ passing attack is even better) by backing their defenders off of the line in an effort to discourage the pass.
The Packers are still going to throw with regularity, but Lacy figures to make the most of his touches. I like Green Bay to take an early lead and hold it for most of the afternoon, allowing Lacy to pick up some cheap yards in the second half. When all is said and done, I like Lacy rank higher this week than RB2s like Ryan Mathews or Lamar Miller this weekend.
If your question remains unanswered, reach out to me on Twitter @unSOPable23.
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