It really is a time (dis)honored tradition: star player gets hurt, unheralded no-name backup gets promoted to the starting lineup and proceeds to wreak havoc on opposing teams. In both real life and fantasy football, this scenario plays out all the time. The difference is that in real life, it's good to have more than one capable option where as in fantasy that issue just complicates everything.
Take, for example, the Chicago Bears. Running back Matt Forte was a consensus first-round pick (especially in PPR leagues) this year due to his heavy involvement in the offense. Yet a knee injury has sidelined him since November first and backup Jeremy Langford has been outstanding as a replacement. While we're still not exactly sure when Forte will return, we do know that it will be tough to get both backs going at the same time.
"The top running back scorer Sunday was Bears rookie Jeremy Langford, as he scored touchdowns on the ground and through the air - an electrifying screen pass turned into an 83-yard score - and let's just say if you own him and Matt Forte, the veteran can take his sweet time returning from a knee injury," ESPN Fantasy Football Insider Eric Karabell wrote. "Forte's best game this season featured 22 standard fantasy points; Langford sped past that number Sunday. We don't really know when Forte will return, but he's a pending free agent with value and health to protect, so this should be interesting. Langford is a must-own, however, in case this becomes, at worst, a time-share. Langford faces a tough Broncos defense in Week 11, but it's not like the Chiefs' Charcandrick West was held back in Denver on Sunday, so don't be shy about using him as a mid-RB2."
Before Forte went down with injury, he had carried the ball 136 times for 548 yards (4.0 YPC) and two touchdowns in seven games. He had also caught 25 passes for 219 yards and an additional score. Forte remains a true three-down back in that regard and a very valuable fantasy commodity due to his workload and involvement. His 23 touches per game this season is among the highest at the position.
But over the last three weeks, Langford has proven himself to also be a dual-threat at RB. He has carried the ball 50 times for 191 yards (3.8 YPC) and two touchdowns but has also caught 10 passes for 179 yards and one score. The Bears will likely keep him involved in the offense even after Forte returns.
Overall, the veteran is the guy you want to own. He'll receive the majority of the workload and first crack at most opportunities. But Langford has proven worth a roster spot in all formats and should still see roughly eight to ten touches per game once Forte is back.
