DeMarco Murray and C.J. Anderson have been huge disappointments as fantasy football first-round draft picks.
But the biggest running back failure through six weeks is Eddie Lacy.
Lacy, who I saw go as high as the third overall player chosen, has been outrushed by his handcuff, James Starks.
Lacy has run for only 260 yards and scored one touchdown.The bruising Packers running back has been outgained on the ground by 24 other running backs, including Thomas Rawls, Isaiah Cromwell and Starks.
The Lacy disappointment crescendo reached its loudest note this past Sunday when he gained only three yards rushing on four carries at home versus a soft San Diego run defense that ranks 29th.
Starks, by contrast, rushed for 112 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns against the Chargers.
It’s not a fluke. Starks has looked better all season. Lacy has failed to gain more than 46 yards rushing in four of his six games. He has not scored a touchdown since Week 1 and is averaging less than four yards a carry. His longest run is 16 yards.
Packers apologist, err coach Mike McCarthy said Lacy is a little banged up. Well, when isn’t Lacy banged-up?
Lacy’s season-long funk leaves two questions: What do you do if Lacy is on your team and is he worth targeting in a deal?
Right now you’re stuck with Lacy because no owner is going to give you much for him, especially with the Packers entering their bye this week and then playing Denver in two weeks. The Broncos are second in total defense and No. 6 in rush defense.
By then it would make sense to deal for Lacy as exasperated owners would be wiling to give him away.
Lacy’s history is to come on during the second half of the year. He rushed for 62 percent of his 1,139 yards during the second half of last season. Starks has a history of getting hurt, too.
During the their last eight regular season games, the Packers face either weak defenses (Lions twice, Bears and Raiders) or mediocre run defenses (Vikings twice and Cardinals.). So taking a chance on Lacy then would be worth a chance.
