Eddie Lacy's Updated 2014 Fantasy Outlook Heading into Week 3

Everybody panic!

Alright, let’s not overreact to two weeks of fantasy football. Yes, Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has underperformed in his first two outings, but it’s not time to give up on him just yet.

We are still talking about the bruising runner whom ESPN.com ranked as the No. 7 player in all of fantasy football before the year started. He was also the only rookie running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013 and is a featured player in one of the league’s most dynamic offenses.

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However, it is concerning that he only ran for 34 yards on 12 carries in the opener at Seattle and then followed that up with 43 rushing yards on 13 carries against the New York Jets. To make matters worse, he is yet to find the end zone this season.

Any fantasy football player can tell you that missing on a first-round pick, especially at running back, is one of the surest ways to derail a season. That is why there may be some sense of worry regarding the Packers' playmaker at all right now, even if it is early.

After all, we don’t want another Trent Richardson situation on our hands.

It is also worth mentioning that right tackle Bryan Bulaga missed Week 2 with an injury and rookie Corey Linsley is still getting his feet wet along the offensive line.

Lacy should bounce back in the coming weeks just by being healthy. He left Week 1’s game against the Seahawks with a concussion and likely wasn’t 100 percent for the second contest. Look for his production to improve if and when he puts any lingering health concerns (and the dominant Seattle defense that will likely make a number of running backs look bad) in the rearview mirror.

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It is a stock market axiom that you should buy low and sell high, and that logic applies perfectly to fantasy football and Lacy's current situation.

ESPN Fantasy Sports recently suggested as much:

Perhaps the best news about Lacy’s immediate fantasy future are comments from head coach Mike McCarthy, via Mike Spofford of Packers.com:

“It was more of Eddie not getting touches. In the big picture over 16 games, the distribution of reps at the running back position will not reflect what we did yesterday. Eddie is one of our best players on offense and his opportunities were limited.”

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More opportunities means more fantasy points, and that is exactly what fantasy owners want to hear as the Packers prepare for an intradivision showdown with the Detroit Lions in Week 3.

One word of warning, though, regarding the Lions—they rank second in the NFL against the run thus far. Sure, it’s a ridiculously small sample size and Lacy may be more talented than the running backs for the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers that Detroit slowed down, but it is worth monitoring as Lacy tries to snap out of his small slump.

Still, look for Lacy to bounce back in Week 3 and beyond as he regains his health and the offensive line gels. He is one of the most highly regarded fantasy backs for a reason this year and proved himself in 2013.

What’s more, with Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb spearheading the passing game, opposing defenses simply cannot focus in on stopping the run. Otherwise, the Packers will put on an aerial display like they did during the comeback against the New York Jets.

No stacked boxes means more lanes for Lacy and his bruising running style. In turn, that means more fantasy points for you. 

If you have Lacy on your team, you probably need those points more than most going forward.

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