Many fantasy owners pay little to no attention to the actual NFL standings, preferring to study only their fantasy ones frontward and backward. I can see the point, but for the rest of this season, I do think as real-life teams fall out of contention, it increases the risk of some of their top players -- and some of the top fantasy options -- not contributing to the same degree. Heck, it might even prevent some of them from playing at all.
Consider the situation with a few NFC North running backs that still, despite their unfortunate injuries, reside in the season top 10 for scoring at their position. Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte have posted tremendous seasons, but neither is likely to suit up in Week 14. What about Week 15? Are you feeling lucky? The truth is Forte, despite a serious knee injury that could very well end his season, still plays for a contending Chicago Bears team that has relied on him for a greater percentage of its offense than any other team has for a running back. The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, are 2-10.
My point is while fantasy owners everywhere beg for Peterson's return, and presume Forte is done, the plight of their teams plays a role. If the Bears continue losing, Forte gamely hobbling to the field in Week 16 seems unlikely. If they win Sunday, that could change. Peterson did not practice Wednesday, as he continues to deal with a high ankle sprain, and claims he's at 70 percent. Well, what if he's at only 75 percent Christmas week? It makes little sense for the Vikings to push their franchise player, especially when Toby Gerhart has done admirable work in his stead.
For a list of players Eric believes might be shut down in the final weeks, you must be an ESPN Insider!
Eric Karabell | email
ESPN.com Senior Writer- ESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
- Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
- Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Eric Karabell
Eric Karabell is an ESPN.com senior writer. He has worked at ESPN since 1997 and covered fantasy sports for ESPN since 2001, specializing in baseball and football. Eric appears several times per week on SportsCenter, NFL Live and other ESPN shows, contributes to ESPN Radio and ESPN The Magazine and is the host of the Baseball Today Podcast. He has been honored twice as fantasy sports writer of the year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, his blog was named best fantasy baseball series for 2007 and he was inducted into the inaugural FSWA Hall of Fame class in 2010.
Eric grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, and accordingly, favors Philly teams first, his fantasy teams second. He previously served as ESPN.com's lead NBA editor, and is a former Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer. Eric is also the author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments," published by Source Books and available in bookstores and online.
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