Fantasy Football Week 4: Why Buffalo Bills' Tashard Choice Is Must-Sit

Fantasy owners who thought that the Buffalo Bills’ Tashard Choice would wind up being a cheaply acquired featured back should be warned: it might not happen anytime soon.

Choice had 20 carries in Week 3, with Fred Jackson sidelined since Week 1 and C.J. Spiller leaving the game against the Cleveland Browns early.

He converted those carries into 91 yards, and caught a couple of balls for eight more yards.

And yet, the two running backs that began the season ahead of Choice are each holding out hope for an appearance in the Bills’ Week 4 contest with the New England Patriots.

C.J. Spiller’s injury was the more recent of the two. But with his performance so far this season, the Patriots are now forced to consider him when brainstorming their defensive schemes even if he doesn’t play.

That provides the Bills with an advantage whether or not Spiller actually suits up.

If Jackson returns this week, it will also have been a pleasant surprise for the Bills considering his prognosis post-Week 1 was that he’d miss at least three weeks.

This would be the third week.

Therefore, it’s possible that the Bills are playing additional games with the Patriots using the threat of playing Jackson as well as Spiller.

If Sunday morning’s inactives list rolls around and Spiller and Jackson’s names are both on it, Choice becomes a must-start option.

He’d be in line for a lot of touches in Week 4.

But the fact that Spiller’s injury designation has improved this week from doubtful to questionable speaks favorably to his ability to suit up this week.

Adding in the possibility of Jackson taking a few snaps out of the backfield as well means that Choice is unlikely to see very many carries.

The Bills also may find themselves throwing more frequently than they’d like in this game, which would limit the upside of Choice’s rushing outlook.

Buffalo is more likely to force-feed Spiller and/or Jackson than they would Choice, who had eight of his 20 carries in the fourth quarter last week while the Bills were running out the clock. 

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