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Halfway through 2009, the Houston Texans are in line for a wild-card playoff spot. The success in the standings had paralleled triumphs from the Texan players in fantasy football until the events of Week 8 threw the prospects of a number of Houston players up in the air.
Steve Slaton has had fumble problems all year, and his lack of rushing yardage was a cause for concern throughout the course of the season. Even so, no fantasy owner expected a starting running back to be benched for almost the entire game after losing an early fumble.
Worse yet for Slaton owners was that his backup, Ryan Moats, came in and devoured the porous Buffalo run defense for over 100 yards and three scores. In the same game, tight end Owen Daniels, an emerging star, was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Fantasy owners now have to predict how the Houston stars will rebound from last week. Slaton was averaging fewer than 50 rushing yards a game before his 1-yard output versus the Bills, although his receiving ability has saved him. He is 13th in the league in yards from scrimmage and has five total touchdowns.
Slaton is even more valuable in point-per-reception leagues, where he ranks 11th among all backs. The injury to Daniels will actually help Slaton because his prowess catching the ball will result in more activity in the passing game.
The drawback to Slaton is that losing another fumble will likely cause head coach Gary Kubiak to be just as stringent in disciplining his second-year back as he was in Buffalo. Owners willing to take the risk of Slaton missing significant time for a second straight week may start him this week against an Indianapolis run defense missing stalwart Bob Sanders.
Many of the fantasy owners who flocked to pick up Moats after last week are now in a quandary. Moats has shown that he can succeed given the chance; however, Slaton is still going to be plenty of action. Moats is not explosive enough to be a viable fantasy starter if he gets only 10 or 12 touches, so he needs to be on the bench until Houston delegates the running duties.
Kevin Walter is another player that stands to improve his stats with the loss of Daniels. Walter totaled at least 60 catches and 800 yards in both 2007 and 2008. His eight scores last season made him an attractive bench option for many owners on draft day. With the exception of his first game, though, Walter has been nearly nonexistent.
In his last five contests, Walter has 15 catches for 165 yards and no touchdowns. Certainly, Walter is apt to replace Daniels' production, but fantasy owners must take a wait-and-see approach with Walter. Until he proves himself, he needs to remain on the bench.
The Arizona Cardinals also find themselves in position for the playoffs amid injury problems of their own. The dilemma facing fantasy owners of Arizona players revolves almost entirely around the health of Anquan Boldin.
Boldin had been a no-brainer as a starting fantasy receiver for years; this fall he has no 100-yard games, two 80-yard games and one touchdown. Assuming he suits up today in Chicago, it will be the third straight week that he will play despite a high-ankle sprain.
Playing in his first game with the sprain, he defied the odds and rewarded the 45 percent of owners who started him by covering 75 yards. In Week 8, two-thirds of owners bought into the false hope from the week prior and started Boldin, who finished with 23 yards.
The injury to Boldin not only frustrates his owners, but also discourages those with Steve Breaston on their fantasy rosters. When Boldin is questionable, Breaston earns a start in a lot of fantasy leagues. Unfortunately, in the last two weeks with Boldin nursing the injury, Breaston has a grand total of seven catches for 80 yards. Until Boldin is inactive or completely healthy, both he and Breaston will be dubious fantasy starters.
Dan Massey's Fantasy Sports appears each Sunday. E-mail him at dmassey@lnpnews.com.
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