Houston Texans RB Arian Foster has been dealing with a hamstring injury this season and in Week 5, Alfred Blue could be a strong start option as a fantasy football handcuff for Foster, as that injury could keep him out of the lineup and on the bench against the Dallas Cowboys, which would be a huge blow for fantasy owners and for the team.
Foster comes into the week after dealing with a hamstring injury and it has been lingering on him this season for the past few weeks. According to Pro Football Talk, Foster missed practice this week, but that doesn't mean he will be held out of the game on Sunday. Fantasy owners would be wise to grab Alfred Blue and get ready to start him on Sunday against the Cowboys, as the Texans could hold out Foster if he doesn't get better by Sunday. The Texans said that Foster is day to day for now and heading into Sunday he could be a game time decision.
Foster has dealt with injury issues in his career and last season he missed half the games for the Texans while dealing with injuries. Foster had missed only three games in the previous three seasons and now he has already missed on this year. Foster has 247 rushing yards and one TD this season along with 11 catches and he is looking to get back to his 2012 numbers when he had 1400 yards and 40 catches. Foster can be one of the best RBs in football when healthy, but him getting on the field has been the main issue for him.
Blue has stepped up in his absence and he could be a solid spot starter if Foster misses time or is limited in the game this week against the Cowboys. According to Pro Football Talk, Foster will once again be a game time decision for the game against the Dallas Cowboys. One thing that's good for fantasy owners is that Foster is playing in an early game and that means they will have time to make changes. Sometimes when that happens in the late game, fantasy owners can get caught in between and then screwed when their player does or doesn't play.
Foster was out of practice this Wednesday and while he had a tough game last week, it looks like he still has a chance to be active. Foster ended up with eight yards on six carries in the game and losing him against the Cowboys would be a big blow even if he is not fully healthy. Foster had seven catches in the game last week and that saved some fantasy owners in PPR leagues (including this one) and now he will once again be a late choice.
Blue has played well in his absence and ended up with more carries than Foster last week. Blue also added two catches in the game for 16 yards and now he has 127 yards on the season. Blue has not yet scored a touchdown, but the Texans have shown they are not afraid of using him as the starter and fantasy owners should feel okay about him if Foster is not in the lineup. It's hard to do, but even at not 100 percent, if Foster plays, START him.