Texans' Plan to Split Backfield Work Spells Fantasy Trouble for Arian Foster

In Week 2, Houston Texans running back Arian Foster rumbled for 138 yards on 28 carries in a blowout win over the Oakland Raiders.

It was the second straight week that Foster cracked the century mark and the most rushing yardage Foster has gained in a game since Week 6 of the 2013 season.

However, before Foster's fantasy owners could even finish patting themselves on the back for drafting the 28-year-old this season, news came out of Houston that put a significant damper on the celebration where Foster's early-season success is concerned.

In fact, it may be time for savvy fantasy owners to consider selling high on the sixth-year pro.

After racking up 55 carries over the first two weeks of the season, head coach Bill O'Brien indicated to Brian T. Smith of The Houston Chronicle that he intends to lighten Foster's workload moving forward:

Now, many will chalk this up to much ado about nothing. Foster has looked very much like his old self over the first two weeks of the season, averaging a very respectable 4.4 yards a carry.

Also, when O'Brien spoke with Smith after the Texans' win, he certainly didn't sound like a coach who planned to dial back Foster's workload while talking up his starting tailback:

"

I hear that a lot, about the running backs being devalued and I do understand the point that’s being made. But I think it depends on each team and who your running back is. When you look at our team and we have Arian Foster, that guy’s an upper-echelon running back. So we try to get him a bunch of carries and so far he’s done well with it.

"

Still, there are a couple of ways that things could go from here that are concerning for Foster's fantasy owners.

First, there's the possibility that O'Brien will indeed follow through on his pledge to divide the workload in the Houston backfield, giving more carries to youngsters Alfred Blue and Jonathan Grimes. It's a move that makes sense for the Texans from an NFL perspective, but it's hardly what fantasy owners want to hear.

It makes sense from a football perspective because the other alternative is all but surely not going to end well. As things stand right now, Foster is on pace for a staggering 440 carries. If the Texans maintain that pace going forward, the wheels are going to come off the Foster bandwagon at some point.

Remember, there were already significant concerns about Foster's durability entering the 2014 campaign. He missed half of last year with an assortment of injuries, which many blamed on his heavy workload the three previous seasons.

It doesn't matter who the running back is, or how talented they may be. A 400-carry pace is just not sustainable. Foster will break down at this rate. It's just a matter of when.

Granted, this doesn't mean it's panic time for Foster's fantasy owners. Right now he ranks sixth among running backs in fantasy football leagues that award a point for receptions.

Still, success in fantasy football oftentimes depends on the ability to prognosticate, whether it's identifying a player who is about to break out or one who could be headed for a significant downturn.

It's that latter possibility with Foster that makes him a phenomenal "sell high" candidate. Between his early success and the injuries that ravaged the running back position in Week 2, Foster's trade value couldn't be higher right now.

So, if you're a Foster owner who managed to dodge Sunday's carnage and have some depth at the position, now isn't the time to rest on your laurels and bask in Foster's hot start.

Now is the time to consider a move that could land you upgrades at multiple positions from a league mate whose backfield is in shambles.

Because one way or another, Arian Foster is going to cool off.

And when that chill wind blows in, better it freeze another squad than yours.

Gary Davenport is an NFL and Fantasy Football Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor.