Despite the loss of Jordy Nelson, the Green Bay Packers are still considered contenders this season. The team is more than just the one wide receiver and with Aaron Rodgers under center, the Packers will be a threat no matter what. However, as they determine what the new receiver rotation looks like, it could be the ground game that pulls the Packers through the start of the season and Eddie Lacy and James Stark are built to do just that.
According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, the run game will be critical to the Green Bay Packers season. The Packers have Lacy returning as the No.1 starter, but Starks makes for an ice dynamic duo that the team can seriously lean on. ESPN reports that over the past two seasons, the two running backs have amassed a combined 3,000 yards. Starks has put up 800 of that while Lacy has had 2,317 yards in his first two seasons with the team. Lacy believes the two backs complement one another with their different styles of attack.
"My running style pretty much wears out defenses," Lacy said, via ESPN.com. "And his, they have to chase him, so that makes them tired, too. So it's a combination of constant hitting and constant chasing. Two completely different styles, so it works out pretty good."
Wide receiver injuries have made running backs a big focus entering 2015. The Carolina Panthers plan on going that route after the team lost Kelvin Benjamin for the season. Without their No.1 receiver, Cam Netwon and company will be looking for the rushing attack to pick up the slack. Jonathan Stewart returns as the workhorse, but it is Cameron Artis-Payne grabbing headlines after two strong preseason performances. Artis-Payne could be a big fantasy sleeper pick heading into the new season. However, Fozzy Whittaker plans on pushing him for the spot, a competition that will only benefit Carolina.
"There's always competition, and that's how I view it," Whittaker said, via the Charlotte Observer. "I'm always competing with (Jonathan Stewart), (Mike), Tolbert, Brandon (Wegher), Jordan (Todman). Everybody that's on the football field I'm always competing (with). At the same time, the pressure that somebody may feel from me, I'm feeling it from them as well. Everybody knows that this is a business at the end of the day. But also at the end of the day they're pushing me to get better as hopefully I'm pushing them."
Both the Packers and the Panthers have to do some readjustments after injuries. Neither team has shown interest in acquiring a free agent off the market and could be waiting until the first round of roster cuts take place before adding another player to the mix. For now, the run games will be a major focus.
