Barkowitz: Injuries put squeeze on running back situation
POSITION WATCH * Quarterbacks: Atlanta's Matt Ryan is 8-0 all-time in home openers, with 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Those four picks, oddly enough, came when he threw two apiece in two games against the Eagles (2011, 2015). One of his interceptions
HAD A GUY log in to the Thursday webchat who already is in a bind with his running backs.
He had to start two guys among Justin Forsett, Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael and Jamaal Charles.
Six weeks ago, when the fellas were just entering training camp, there was plenty of optimism around the NFL. Maybe the Eagles could make a run at the playoffs if Sam Bradford stays healthy.
Then the boys put the pads on, trades were made, hamstrings were pulled and injuries popped up like weeds on an abandoned property.
Six weeks ago, our man's fantasy backfield was pretty darn strong. Now, just as the NFL season starts, he's in a quandary.
For the record, I advised him to go with Michael and Forsett. Rawls is still coming back from last year's broken ankle and Charles from his torn ACL.
The Seattle dilemma — Rawls or Michael — needs to be monitored throughout the weekend. Rawls put up some monster games last year, while Michael has been mostly a disappointment since the Seahawks used a second-round pick on him in 2013. C.J. Prosise, a third-rounder out of Notre Dame, would be next.
Here are three other hot topics entering Week 1:
* In Kansas City, Spencer Ware is the running back of choice this week, with Charles still hobbled. Charles, who turns 30 in December, had a career-high 1,509 rushing yards in 2012 — the year after he suffered his first major knee injury as a pro. Of course, he was 25 at the time.
Suspended animation
The average draft positions for fantasy football's three most prominent suspended players, according to leagues run by ESPN:
Le'Veon Bell (suspended three games), No. 15; Tom Brady (four games), No. 62; Josh Gordon (four games), No. 96.
POSITION WATCH
* Quarterbacks: Atlanta's Matt Ryan is 8-0 all-time in home openers, with 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Those four picks, oddly enough, came when he threw two apiece in two games against the Eagles (2011, 2015). One of his interceptions last year was the highlight of Kiko Alonso's Eagles' career . . . Blake Bortles, who was 23 last season, became the youngest quarterback in history to throw for 4,400 yards, rush for 300 and throw 35 TDs in a season. Bortles, entering his third season and now 24 years old, has what appears to be a pretty favorable second-half schedule.
* Running backs: Washington's Matt Jones (shoulder) practiced Thursday and is a Week 1 sleeper. Have to think the Redskins want to pound the ball, control the clock and keep the Steelers offense on the sideline as much a possible on Monday . . . Since entering the league in 2007, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson has never played with the same primary quarterback for more than two years. His three best years were in 2008 (1,760 yards) when Gus Frerotte was the Vikes' leading QB; 2009 (18 TD runs), with Brett Favre; and 2012 (2,097 yards), with Christian Ponder. So bring on Shaun Hill - or Sam Bradford.
* Wide receiver: Two rookies who are on the sleeper radar are New Orleans' Michael Thomas and Cleveland's Corey Coleman. Thomas is the guy Saints coach Sean Payton said would be fantasy gold. Brandin Cooks is still the Saints' WR1 . . . Dorial Green-Beckham's size (6-5, 235) makes him an interesting goal-line target, but his 17.2 yards per catch led all rookies last year. Let's see whether he seizes the fresh start he has with the Eagles.
WEEK 1 RANKINGS
Quarterbacks ... Opp.
1. Aaron Rodgers, GB . . . at Jac.
2. Russell Wilson, Sea. . . . vs. Min.
3. Cam Newton, Car. . . . (Thurs.) at Den.
4. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit. . . . at Was.
5. Drew Brees, NO . . . vs. Oak.
6. Eli Manning, NYG . . . at Dal.
7. Kirk Cousins, Was. . . . vs. Pit.
8. Carson Palmer, Ari. . . . vs. NE
9. Tyrod Taylor, Buf. . . . at Bal.
10. Blake Bortles, Jac. . . . vs. GB
11. Derek Carr, Oak. . . . at NO
12. Matthew Stafford, Det.. . . at Ind.
Running backs ... Opp.
1. Adrian Peterson, Min. . . . at Ten.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, Dal. . . . vs. NYG
3. Eddie Lacy, GB . . . at Jac.
4. David Johnson, Ari. . . . vs. NE
5. Lamar Miller, Hou. . . . vs. Chi.
6. DeAngelo Williams, Pit. . . . at Was.
7. LeSean McCoy, Buf. . . . at Bal.
8. Todd Gurley, LA . . . at SF
9. Spencer Ware, KC . . . vs. SD
10. DeMarco Murray, Ten. . . . vs. Min.
11. Matt Forte, NYJ . . . vs. Cin.
12. Ryan Mathews, Eagles . . . vs. Cle.
13. Mark Ingram, NO . . . vs. Oak.
14. Devonta Freeman, Atl. . . . vs. TB
15. Latavius Murray, Oak. . . . at NO
16. C.J. Anderson, Den. . . . (Thurs.) vs. Car.
17. Doug Martin, TB . . . at Atl.
18. Jeremy Langford, Chi. . . . at Hou.
19. Carlos Hyde, SF. . . vs. LAR
20. Rashad Jennings, NYG . . . at Dal.
21. Jeremy Hill, Cin. . . . at NYJ
22. Christine Michael, Sea.. . . vs. Mia.
23. Jonathan Stewart, Car. . . . (Thurs.) at Den.
24. Matt Jones, Was. . . . vs. Pit.
25. Arian Foster, Mia. . . . at Sea.
Wide receivers ... Opp.
1. Antonio Brown, Pit. . . . at Was.
2. Odell Beckham, NYG . . . at Dal.
3. Julio Jones, Atl. . . . vs. TB
4. DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. . . . vs. Chi.
5. Allen Robinson, Jac. . . . vs. GB
6. Keenan Allen, SD . . . at KC
7. Dez Bryant, Dal. . . . vs. NYG
8. Brandon Marshall, NYJ . . . vs. Cin.
9. A.J. Green, Cin. . . . at NYJ
10. Amari Cooper, Oak. . . . at NO
11. Mike Evans, TB . . . at Atl.
12. Brandin Cooks, NO . . . vs. Oak.
13. Jordy Nelson, GB . . . at Jac.
14. Randall Cobb, GB . . . at Jac.
15. Doug Baldwin, Sea. . . . vs. Mia.
16. Alshon Jeffery, Chi. . . . at Hou.
17. Julian Edelman, NE . . . at Ari.
18. Jarvis Landry, Mia. . . . at Sea.
19. Sammy Watkins, Buf. . . . at Bal.
20. T.Y. Hilton, Ind. . . . vs. Det.
21. Allen Hurns, Jac. . . . vs. GB
22. Jeremy Maclin, KC . . . vs. SD
23. D. Thomas, Den. . . . (Thurs.) vs. Car.
24. Golden Tate, Det. . . . at Ind.
25. Kelvin Benjamin, Car. . . . (Thurs.) at Den.
Tight ends ... Opp.
1. Jordan Reed, Was. . . . vs. Pit.
2. Rob Gronkowski, NE . . . at Ari.
3. Greg Olsen, Car. . . . (Thurs.) at Den.
4. Julius Thomas, Jac. . . . vs. GB
5. Antonio Gates, SD . . . at KC
6. Gary Barnidge, Cle. . . . at Phi.
7. Travis Kelce, KC . . . vs. SD
8. Delanie Walker, Ten. . . . vs. Mia.
9. Coby Fleener, NO . . . vs. Oak.
10. Martellus Bennett, NE . . . at Ari.
11. Jared Cook, GB . . . at Jac.
12. Jesse James, Pit. . . . at Was.
DFS SLEEPERS
Quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Matthew Stafford
Running backs: Spencer Ware, Matt Forte, Ryan Mathews,
Wide receivers: Jarvis Landry, Randall Cobb, Golden Tate, Michael Thomas (NO)
Tight ends: Jesse James, Julius Thomas
@EdBarkowitz