The Green Bay Packers have James Starks as the starter over Eddie Lacy for Week 10 and fantasy football owners should push Starks at running back this week against the Lions. The Packers have a solid matchup and players like Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers and James Jones could be sleeper picks for Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers have lost two straight games to undefeated teams and now they have a matchup with the worst team in the league in the Lions. The Packers are battling with the Vikings at the top of the division and that makes this game important, as the team has a game looming with Minnesota next week. The Packers will try not to look past their opponent even with the Lions having just one win this season and Aaron Rodgers said the team will not take the Lions lightly.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Lions have not won a game in Green Bay since 1991 and while that tips the scales in the Packers favor for Week 10, Rodgers said that the Packers are preparing for a tough battle. The Packers offense is going to use James Starks as the lead back over Eddie Lacy on Sunday, as head coach Mike McCarthy said that Starks deserves the chance to start after the way he has played this season.
McCarthy said to reporters earlier in the week that "James is our No. 1 back right now" and that he has "earned the opportunity" at this point in the season. The team still plans on using Lacy this weekend, but he has not been as consistent as Starks and fantasy owners should be cautious using him this week. Starks has fewer carries overall this season, but he has more yards than Lacy and now gets the chance to be the number one back. McCarthy had been using the hot hand approach this season at running back and now Starks will try and keep that going against the Lions. Lacy has been a bit banged up this season and that could be one reason why he has not been as effective this year.
Starks comes in after putting up over 120 total yards last week against the Panthers, including six catches for 83 yards and a receiving touchdown. Lacy has not had more than 15 touches in a game since back in early October and over the past three weeks he has combined for just 51 total rushing yards. Lacy is dealing with a groin injury and he was limited in practice for the Packers on Thursday, but he is expected to play.
Davante Adams has been dealing with injuries this season and he comes in after having a breakout game against the Panthers with seven catches for 93 yards. Those numbers were season highs for Adams and moving forward he could be a consistent fantasy option for Aaron Rodgers. James Jones is dealing with a quad issue and he is likely going to play on Sunday if he can practice heading into the weekend. Jones has a knack for finding the endzone and he will be a solid WR2 or WR3 option with a nice matchup coming against the Lions.