The fantasy football week will start early in Week 13 on Thursday with Thanksgiving games, but that doesn't change much for some injured starters, as names like Zac Stacy, Matt Forte, Julius Thomas, Chris Ivory and Ryan Mathews are all banged up and that means fantasy owners must find alternatives for them heading into the weekend as the playoffs get closer.
Stacy is one of the toughest players for fantasy owners to use, as he has been one of the best running backs in football since taking over the starting job in week five and over the past few weeks he has been very productive, but he had to leave the game on Sunday against the Bears with a head injury. Matt Forte has been playing very well, but he is dealing with a knee injury after the game against the Rams, while Thomas is looking to return after sitting out against the Patriots. The Chargers lost Mathews in the game against the Chiefs, as he had to leave in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and he has been very consistent all season. The Forte injury could be very tough to overcome for the Bears, who are trying to make a playoff run in the division.
Stacy left the game with a concussion and Benny Cunningham took over for him and played very well, going for over 100 yards and Stacy finished the game with 13 touches for nearly 100 yards, including 87 on the ground with a touchdown. Stacy had been over 100 yards in two of the past three games entering Sunday and now he has four scores in his past three games and he has also been a solid factor in the passing game. The Rams are hoping that he can return and they need him to try and get back into things, as he is averaging an impressive 4.4 yards per carry and has been very good for the team since taking over for Daryl Richardson.
Forte has been having one of the best seasons of his career and if he has to miss time or is limited this week for the Bears, which could be a big issue with Michael Bush not playing all that great this season. Forte has been putting up some great stats in the rushing and passing game and he finished with 16 carries for 77 yards on Sunday along with seven catches for 40 yards and now he has had 40 yards or more receiving in three of the past four games and if he misses time, that is where it will sting the offense the most.
Forte has 56 catches this season for over 400 yards and that gives him over 1,000 total yards for the year and he has been one of the most productive backs in fantasy football. Forte ranks in the top 10 in rush yards, yards per game as well as touchdowns and for the Bears to make the playoffs he will need to stay healthy.
Julius Thomas and Ryan Mathews both could be back next week after Thomas missed Sunday's game and Mathews had to leave with a hamstring injury. Thomas has been the best tight end for Peyton Manning and he is expected to return, while Mathews suffered a hamstring injury that could linger, but he was solid on Sunday with 55 yards and a TD, so if he can go, he'll start.