The Green Bay Packers are looking to rebound coming into Week 9 and fantasy football owners should look to start Eddie Lacy over James Starks after the way the running back played on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers struggled against a tough Broncos defense and now players like Davante Adams, James Jones and Richard Rodgers will be looking to bounce back against the Panthers.
James Starks and Eddie Lacy have been splitting carries this season and for a stretch it was Starks taking the majority of the touches on offense. Last week was a different story, as Starks has been dealing with a hip issue and that hampered him a bit against the Broncos. Lacy was the lead back and had more carries than Starks, who finished with five rushes for nine yards, while Lacy had more than double that with 11 carries in the game. Lacy also scored a touchdown and it looked like the running back finally got over his ankle injury that has been lingering this season.
Lacy only rushed four times in the last game for the Packers and now it looks like he is ready to take over again as the main starter. Both Lacy and Starks are still solid fantasy start options for owners, but Lacy looks like he will be the lead back moving forward into Week 9. The Packers offense struggled overall on Sunday night and that is why the two players combined for just 16 carries. Lacy has 298 yards in seven games this season, while Starks has 295 yards rushing.
The Packers offense has been dealing with injuries at wide receiver all season, as Jordy Nelson was injured and lost for the year in the preseason, while Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery have had injuries as well. Adams was able to return for the Packers and he had a quiet game in Week 8, but he is worth using in the coming weeks as he gets his feet back. Adams has played in just four games this season, but he will have the chance to bounce back with Ty Montgomery likely out again this week.
James Jones has stepped up the most with the injuries and he comes in after making just one catch for two yards against the Broncos. The Denver defense did a good job on Aaron Rodgers and that is one reason why the wideouts struggled. Jones has found the endzone consistently this season and is worth starting, while Adams comes in after playing every snap on offense and that is a good sign as he comes back from his ankle injury.
Mike McCarthy said the previous game that Starks and Lacy would continue to split carries and that the team would go with the hot hand at running back. McCarthy said at the time that the way Starks was playing earned him more snaps on offense and heading into Week 10 with Lacy playing well, it could be back to him as the lead back or more of an even split between the two. Starks has played well when Lacy has been banged up and the Packers are confident that both players can keep things consistent in the rushing game when healthy.
