Quality RBs available after rash of injuries
Most fantasy football league playoffs will begin in three weeks, so this is the time to make a final push to solidify your roster with quality pickups. Because of a barrage of injuries to starting running backs across the NFL, this week might have the most quality to choose from out of all 11 weeks.
Let's start the scouting report with Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett.
Already featured as a third-down back all season, Forsett got his chance to fill in for Julius Jones (bruised lung) last week against Arizona and made the most of it. He produced 123 rushing yards and a touchdown and five catches for 26 yards.
Forsett will be starting again Sunday at Minnesota. He's facing a tough Vikings defensive line, but could steal the job from Jones.
Here's a look at other running backs as possible starters for Week 11 and beyond:
• Jason Snelling, Falcons: Just as Michael Turner was starting to turn on the burner, he sprains an ankle. In a little more than a half of work last week, Snelling rushed for 61 yards with a touchdown and caught three passes. The running game is featured prominently in Atlanta, and Turner could miss up to five weeks and will be limited when he returns.
• Bernard Scott, Bengals: Cedric Benson was having a Pro Bowl season, and the 7-3 Bengals have relied heavily on the running game with Benson averaging 24.7 carries per game. If Benson's hip injury keeps him out, Scott will get the start this week against an Oakland run defense ranked No. 29 in the league. He is worth a pickup just to wait out official word from Cincinnati on the status of Benson and the eventual role of Larry Johnson.
• Jamaal Charles, Chiefs: It's hard to believe this guy is still out there in many leagues after rushing for 103 yards with a 44-yard touchdown against the Raiders. He has a tough matchup against Pittsburgh looming but should be picked up for possible future use to close out your season.
• Ladell Betts, Redskins: Clinton Portis is unlikely to play again this week at Dallas, but that should be OK with the Redskins because Betts is giving them a dimension they have not had all season -- an actual running game. Since filling in for Portis two weeks ago, Betts has rushed for 184 yards and scored twice.
Other running backs who are tucked away on most benches but should be starting this week:
• Beanie Wells, Cardinals: A two-touchdown game last week with his hard, aggressive running impressed everyone. After having early problems with ball security, Wells hasn't fumbled in his past three games, and he will be more prominently featured.
• Knowshon Moreno, Broncos: He had his best day as a pro last week with 97 rushing yards against a good Washington defensive line. With the sad state of Denver's quarterback situation, expect the San Diego defense to see a heavy dose of Moreno.
• LeSean McCoy, Eagles: Brian Westbrook might not return for the rest of the season, and McCoy will take over as the lead back in a good offense. Just on receiving alone, he has resembled Westbrook with 15 catches in the past four games.
A couple of cautionary notes for Week 11:
The Broncos have said they won't change anything in their game plan if Chris Simms starts for injured Kyle Orton, but it might just happen that way based on game performance. So it could be tough for wideout Brandon Marshall to get the ball and score points.
We know Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler will sling the ball, but the question is will he throw enough touchdowns to offset negative points for interceptions? In Cutler's past five games, he has averaged 41 pass attempts and has had three 300-yard games, logging six touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.
With the Bears hosting the Eagles on Sunday night, fantasy owners should take note that Cutler has been at his worst in prime-time games, throwing three touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in three games.
Micah Roberts is a Las Vegas-based writer who contributes weekly fantasy football outlooks for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at MM.Roberts7@gmail.com.
