Arian Foster Torn Achilles Injury Update: Season Over For Fantasy Football Owners


Arian Foster exited today’s game against the Miami Dolphins late in the fourth quarter in what appears to be a torn achilles. For a game that was already well in hand for the Dolphins, the Texans Pro Bowl running back got hurt at a time when starters are usually pulled. As with a lot of season ending injuries recently, Foster was not even hit. He simply cut the wrong way, and his leg gave out. While the Texans were unlikely to make a playoff push this season, the injury is also a hit to fantasy football owners that were relying on Foster as one of their top running backs. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the news on his Twitter account.

A few minutes later, Sports Illustrated confirmed the report on their Twitter account that Foster will miss the remainder of the 2015 NFL season.

After the game, Texans coach Bill O’Brien spoke about the injury.

“I don’t know that yet, but it obviously didn’t look good.”

While Foster is a prolific talent and one of the best running backs in the NFL, he has been extremely injury prone over the course of his career. He missed the first three games of the season after undergoing groin surgery in the beginning of August. While he was expected to miss up to eight weeks, he actually came back in Week 4. At 29-years-old, Foster is not getting any younger. With the extensive rehab required for an achilles injury and the fact that most running backs begin their decline at 30-years-old, Foster’s time as a top talent may unfortunately be over for Texans fans.

So where does that leave Arian Foster fantasy football owners? Unfortunately, they are in a very difficult position. Since running back is already such a difficult position to fill in the current pass heavy NFL, finding a solid option on the waiver wire that can be relied on week-to-week is almost impossible. With Foster out for the season, the Texans will likely use a running back by committee for the remainder of the year, which is the worst possible thing for fantasy football owners.

While Alfred Blue has had a few good games in his career in Foster’s absence, he is just not talented enough to take over the full-time starting job. In Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Blue rushed for 139 yards and one touchdown. The next week, he came back and rushed for 17 yards and no touchdowns. While he is nowhere near a reliable option, he is only owned in 12 percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues.

Chris Polk is the other running back in the mix to replace Arian Foster’s production. As an average talent, Polk is also not likely to take the starting job. He will split carries with Blue, and not have much fantasy relevance. He has not rushed for more than 38 yards in a game this season, and only has one touchdown. Since he is only owned in two percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues, it could be worth it to pick him up just incase.

While he is going to be a hot commodity on waiver wires this week, Kansas City Chiefs running back Charcandrick West had his breakout game today. After being given the starting job after Jamaal Charles was lost for the season, West rushed for 110 yards and one touchdown. He also added in 19 yards receiving. He is still available in 38 percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues.

Since Arian Foster is such a special talent in a league without many stars at the running back position, he is going to be very difficult to replace for Fantasy football owners, but Charcandrick West is the best option if he is available in your league.

[Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images]

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