Fantasy Upside
Arian Foster, who turns 29 in August, was as good as ever last season, rushing for 1,246 yards and eight touchdowns on a healthy 4.8 yards per carry average. He added 38 receptions for 327 yards and five touchdowns. All told, Foster had 298 touches over 13 games. Playing in what's almost certain to be a run-first offense once again in Houston, there's only one thing standing between Foster and another huge season (see below).
Fantasy Downside
In explaining his plan to “manage” Foster’s workload this season, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters: “Arian is a very talented guy in a lot of phases. He can run the ball, he can catch the ball, he’s a good pass protector, he’s a smart football player, but you’ve got to manage him. How do you manage that? You manage him in practice. You manage him in the games.” But he did miss three games, and O’Brien is quick to acknowledge that. “I think any time a player reaches that age of 30 or close to that age of 30, and you know that the guy can still play, you know that he is a very talented player,” the coach explained. “That’s something we’ll always take into account. We communicate with the player. We communicate with Arian. How are you feeling this week? What’s ailing you? Things like that. You take a lot of hits at running back in this league. I think we just continue to communicate with Arian and manage it. He’s got a lot of good football yet.”
Bottom Line
My feeling is fantasy owners should focus on that last sentence. Current ADP numbers -- Foster is going off the board as RB6 -- suggest they already are. There will be better bargains later in your draft, but Foster's status as a anchor back on your fantasy roster is well-deserved.
UPDATEFoster suffered a groin injury on Aug. 3 that will reportedly require surgery. Houston Chronicle staffer John McClain reports that Foster won't miss the entire season, but fantasy owners should back off until further details come to light.