Texans RB Arian Foster has looked much better in practice on Thursday, and coach Gary Kubiak was glowing with platitudes of his lead running back.
"He puts us at our best," Kubiak said. "He's a heck of a player. When he's back there, everybody's pretty darn comfortable from a standpoint of what he can do for our football team. Hopefully, everything goes smooth and he's feeling good tomorrow and we're ready to go and back at full strength."
So much for all of you who picked up Ben Tate this week. But I would advise this, do not drop Tate just yet. This hamstring injury is not going away. And even if it is, Foster cannot carry a heavy workload, especially early in the season. Tate is going to play this year, and there will be times when he becomes a good flex option (like a rematch against the Colts), so keep him on your bench.
Oh, and do not think for a moment that Kubiak is not cackling at ruining your fantasy projections for the week. He loves it.
Now who has questions?
Beanie Wells or Shonn Greene this week? I really (expletive) up last week. - Adam G. (via text message)
I still have my doubts about Greene, especially early. There is a chance he could start grooving here against the Jaguars, but as long as LaDainian Tomlinson is still in the mix, you need to avoid as much as possible. Wells has nobody taking carries from him.
Santonio Holmes or Mike Williams in Week 2?? -- Eduardo Garcia (via Twitter)
Williams is a solid WR2, but Holmes is the bottom half of the WR1, so you have to go with him. Plus, the Buccaneers are going to pound the ball this week, especially after trying to play catchup against Detroit in Week 1.
Have Nicks, should I pick up Brandon Gibson or Domenik Hixon for Monday night if he can't go? -- Robert Lines (via Twitter)
This is an interesting one, because you definitely want to get some fantasy insurance if Hakeem Nicks cannot make it. (And get ready for that never-ending saga.) Gibson gets a slight nod for me, because he is somebody who could continue to have value as Danny Amendola returns from his injury. Good think, Bobby. That's right, I said good think.
(Expletive) Napoli - Reader Matt P. (via text message)
Napoli has been killing us for the last couple of years. BTW, I was thinking about a question that you asked earlier this week about Rex Grossman and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Over Week 3 and Week 4, Grossman plays Dallas and St. Louis, while the Bills have the Patriots and Bengals. Both are pretty good, nearly even. I still like Grossman for this week.
I may trade Matthew Stafford, Tim Hightower, & Marques Colston for Dez Bryant and Ahmad Bradshaw. Whatcha think? -- Jaime Mazauskas (via Twitter)
Don't do it. Stafford might end up being a high-end QB1. Hightower is looking pretty good. I don't trust Dez Bryant's injury stuff. Stay away.
Do I start Roddy White or Cedric Benson as a flex starter? -- Benbrahim Samy (via Twitter)
What kind of team do you have that you would consider benching Roddy White? That is a team that I would love to see. And how many teams? My most basic philosophy is to put running backs in the flex spot in standard formats because they are typically consistent. You have a tough call right here because White is a top five receiver, still, I would lean towards Benson until I can get a gander at your team.
For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL.com Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL.com Fantasy has 20,000 followers, Fabiano has 30,000, me, I only have 1,500. So your odds are better that I will answer a question, just based on the numbers. So hit me up on both via Twitter or via Facebook. Be sure to catch the latest on the Dave Dameshek Football Program.
