The Houston Texans come into the Week 11 schedule with Arian Foster set to start after an injury scare and fantasy football owners should be ready to play the RB, while Ryan Mallett is a solid QB option and he could be a sleeper pickup for Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins, as he could put up points as he takes over the starting job for Ryan Fitzpatrick after the bye.
Foster and the Texans had a bye in Week 10 and that came after Foster injured his groin the previous week and was visibly frustrated at the injury. According to Pro Football Talk and NFL.com, the bye week gave Foster time to heal and he is expected to start in Week 11, although cautious fantasy owners should pick up Alfred Blue just in case. Foster is listed as day to day, but after the bye week he should be rested up enough to play.
Foster has been one of the best backs in football this season and for fantasy owners and he now has 822 yards rushing with seven touchdowns. Foster has also added 26 catches for 229 yards and three TDs through the air and fantasy owners cannot afford to lose him for a week. Last game he left the game with the injury, but he had put in a strong day for owners and they could not complain about his production. Foster's injury is not considered serious and that is why fantasy owners should be prepared to start him.
Ryan Mallett is preparing to start at quarterback and playing against the Browns 28th ranked rush defense means that Foster could have a big day. Mallett is a solid player, but he has not had a ton of playing time in the NFL and now he will be getting thrown in for the Texans. The team likely will lean on Foster and that is good news for fantasy owners. Foster has had injury issues in the past and he missed half the season last year and rushed for just 542 yards, which he has already surpassed this season.
Foster has been on a roll as of late and he has at least 100 yards rushing in four of the last five games and he has gone over 100 total yards in all five games in that span. Foster has made at least two catches in every game this season and he has scored five TDs overall in his last three games, including three receiving TDs. Foster was frustrated after being injured before the bye week, but it came at the perfect time, as he was able to heal up and get right before the next game for the Texans.
Mallett will have pressure on him to play well, but Ryan Fitzpatrick was not getting it done and now he will have his chance. Mallett has a much better chance of winning if Foster is healthy and in the backfield for the Week 11 matchup with the upstart Browns.