The Houston Texans may not have Arian Foster in Week 12 and if he is out with an injury, fantasy football owners should look at Alfred Blue as a start option, as he came through last week as one of the top RB starters and now he may have to do it again, as Foster is set to be a game time decision for the matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Foster will be a game time decision on Sunday and this comes after he had the same status last week and if he is out for the matchup, Alfred Blue will get the start. Last week Blue had a heavy workload with Ryan Mallett getting his first start of the season and that could play out again this week against the Bengals. Earlier in the week Foster was expected to be back for the matchup, but now he has been made a game time decision and that could leave fantasy owners without one of the best RBs this week.
Foster was held out last week after being a game time decision and he was downgraded to out after more tests and now he could be a borderline start on Sunday. As long as Foster is active he is worth starting, but Blue is a worthy pickup to handcuff once again if Foster is out. Foster has 822 yards this season and has scored seven TDs along with three receiving TDs and he also has six 100-yard games on the year. Last season Foster missed half the schedule and while he has missed time this season, he has been much more consistent than last year.
Reports have Foster and Blue sharing carries even if Foster is healthy for Sunday and that makes him a start in deep leagues. Blue had over 130 yards last week and he has 390 yards on the season and in his two starts for Foster he has had a combined total of over 200 rushing yards. Blue had 36 carries last week and that was his heaviest workload of the season. Blue and Foster are worth starting if both are active and Blue is also worth of hanging on to for fantasy owners even if Foster plays.
The Texans are ranked third in the league in rushing yards per game this season and they are 27th in passing, which makes losing Foster even tougher if he is out. Blue has been solid in his starts for Foster this season, but he is a major downgrade talent wise compared to Foster. The team is right in the mix at 5-5 this season and they won last week against the Browns in easy fashion and have now won two of the past three games after losing three straight.
The team has a manageable schedule down the stretch and losing Foster for any period of time could be killer. Blue has done well overall, but Foster is a more dynamic back and the team has two solid matchups with the Bengals and Titans next. After that the team has two road games against the Jaguars and the Colts and after that they end the season with the Ravens and the Jags at home.
