Fantasy football owners will need constant injury updates on some key running backs leading up to Week 1, including potential game-time decisions LeSean McCoy and Duke Johnson. Unfortunately, the outlook on C.J. Spiller (knee) ain't so good. Hey, at least we already know Arian Foster, Todd Gurley and Le'Veon Bell won't be active for the first game, so no worries there I guess.
Anyway, here are fantasy news updates for those key running backs expected to miss time to start the season and how fantasy football owners can deal with their early-season absences.
MORE: 2015 Fantasy football rankings | RB sleepers | Fantasy football cheat sheet
Arian Foster's latest injury update
Originally, Arian Foster was expected to miss anywhere from 3-8 games after having surgery to help repair his preseason groin injury. Then it was reported Foster could be back by "early October at the latest." Now Adam Schefter is throwing more cold water on fantasy owners, saying Foster could still miss six-plus games. There's still plenty of risk drafting Foster, especially at his fourth/fifth-round average draft position. Alfred Blue will start while Foster is out.
Will LeSean McCoy play Week 1?
Though last week there was some doubt that LeSean McCoy (hamstring) would be ready for Week 1, now Bills coach Rex Ryan is saying Shady is "ready to roll" for the opener. McCoy returned to practice this past weekend and even vowed to be ready for Week 1. While it sounds like McCoy will suit up for Week 1, he'll be one of the riskiest RB1s to trust in fantasy right away because of uncertain usage and the risk of aggravation. Boobie Dixon, Bryce Brown and rookie Karlos Williams are up next after McCoy.
Duke Johnson's fantasy football outlook
Browns rookie Duke Johnson has finally been cleared to practice after his concussion and is on track to play Week 1 against the Jets despite missing so much time this preseason. Still, we'd caution fantasy owners against starting Duke Johnson right away against the Jets. Even if he's active, as expected, Johnson could be used sparingly behind likely starter Isaiah Crowell.
MORE: 2015 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
C.J. Spiller's status for Week 1
The Saints aren't talking much about C.J. Spiller, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 14 and has missed all of the preseason, but there's a report that Spiller won't play in Week 1 against the Cardinals. Spiller is expected to be ready for Week 2, but we're still a little skeptical about someone with such a long injury history. While Spiller is out, Mark Ingram gets a significant boost in fantasy value.
When will Todd Gurley return?
Rams rookie Todd Gurley has already been ruled out for Week 1, and now it's reported that he may not even play the first three weeks. The good news is that Gurley has shed his non-contact jersey at practice and seems to be progressing well in his recovery from ACL surgery. We already knew Gurley would be worked in slowly before the Rams' Week 6 bye, so his fantasy owners will need to have a long-term backup plan and remain patient. Gurley isn't going to reach his potential until the second half of the season. Until then, we expect Tre Mason to lead the Rams in carries once he's healthy.
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