With Ben Tate’s Injury, Has Arian Foster Turned Into An Elite Fantasy Running Back?

Posted by By Sports Session at 17 August, at 06 : 13 AM Print

Injuries have always been a part of sports, and the NFL preseason almost comes down to who can make it through without getting hurt.  We have already watched injuries to players like Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, Fred Jackson, and Marshawn Lynch.  Injuries create opportunities and solidify positions for some, at the end of the day if you get through the preseason without getting hurt you stand a good chance of making the team.

With the news that rookie tailback Ben Tate is scheduled to go on IR due to an ankle injury, Arian Foster, who was already looking at the starting running back job for Texas this season, is now a near-lock to start the season for the team.

With Steve Slaton’s fumbling issues still alive and well in the early going of the 2010 NFL preseason, it looks like Foster will pick up right where he left off in his stretch run of the 2009 season.

Foster displayed a solid physically running style, as well as an ability to pick up pass protection and catch passes out of the backfield. His versatility and strong fundamentals have him above Slaton from a talent standpoint, and the fact that he’s held onto the ball in his short time as a starter gives him an extra edge.

Foster put up three touchdowns and over 200 rushing yards in Houston’s final two games to end the season in 2009, while averaging roughly 5.5 yards per carry.

So, what’s the end result of all this jabber and hype? Foster is the starting tailback on a pass-first team that is looking to get more balanced, and has addressed its sketchy offensive line woes in the offseason.

Foster will be the lead back, top short-yardage back, and top goal-line back. And while the explosive Slaton is primed to get most of the third down and passing down action, Foster’s solid receiving abilities and ability to pick up the blitz could eventually make him a featured back, and could even make Slaton fairly expandable.

While Foster may never translate all of this into elite fantasy production, we can easily see him putting up quality RB2 numbers, out-performing Slaton, and being worth every cheap penny you pay for him as a mid-round selection in your fantasy draft.

All those owners who bet the farm on Ben Tate made a common mistake in fantasy football; if you read our previous article on Fantasy Football draft strategies then you know Rookies are hit or miss.  Ben Tate was injury prone with ankle problems at Auburn, and in his first preseason action he messes up his ankle seemingly for the entire season.

Fantasy Sports Front Page Features NFL ankle injury, arian foster, Ben Tate, fred jackson, Houston Texans, marshawn lynch, NFL, nfl preseason, offseason, steve slaton