Zac Stacy's Updated 2014 Fantasy Outlook Heading into Week 4

As expected, Zac Stacy has contributed as a solid No. 2 fantasy football running back. Yet the second-year rusher could deliver more points for his fake-team managers if his real coach gave him more opportunities.

Through three games, Stacy has turned 48 touches into 243 yards and a touchdown. Nobody has relayed a horror story on Monday about having faced the St. Louis Rams' primary back the day before, but he has helped out his owners during the past two weeks.

(Week) Opponent	Carries	Rush YDs	YPC	Rec.	Rec. YDs	Total TDs
(1) Minnesota Vikings	11	43	3.9	1	8	0
(2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	19	71	3.7	0	0	1
(3) Dallas Cowboys	12	67	5.6	5	54	0

Under ESPN's standard scoring, Stacy finds himself in a four-way tie among running backs at No. 19. A dozen of the guys have benefited from multiple touchdowns, and we all know end-zone appearances vary throughout the year.

The only difference from preseason perception to reality is that Stacy has performed as an average, low-level No. 2 back rather than a top No. 2 option. For that we can blame Jeff Fischer and Benny Cunningham, who has shared the spotlight despite his lesser production.

Cunningham has turned 20 handoffs into a mere 65 yards. According to 4for4.com's John Paulsen, he split playing time with Stacy against the Dallas Cowboys last weekend.

Although he's tied with Matt Forte for 14th with 42 carries, Stacy has yet to receive 20 or more carries in any game. The current workload is enough to keep him in all fantasy lineups, but drafters can't help but want more given last year's stats.

Upon snatching the starting job on Oct. 6, Stacy averaged 20.8 carries per game, getting 25 or more rushes five times to conclude the 2013 campaign. Despite getting one carry through the first four games, he finished at 250, good for No. 11 in the NFL.

Jeff Fisher maintained that the labor divide won't change going forward, according to ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner.

"We’ll continue with that," Fisher said. "It’s even, but Zac gets going, gets on a roll he gets five or six straight carries or something like that, then you are going to flip them. We’ve always done that." 

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Funny thing about that: Stacy got going against the Cowboys, yet Fisher didn't turn his way exclusively. Not even when they built a 21-0 advantage. If Stacy continues to gain one more yard per attempt than Cunningham, Fischer will eventually relent.

But let's look on the bright side from that late collapse against Dallas: Stacy tallied a season-high five receptions, a big deal considering he caught one in the prior two games and 26 all of last season. His limited work as a pass-catcher lessens his appeal in point-per-reception (PPR) formats, so continued looks there would help him finish as a top-15 fantasy back in all league types.

With the Rams given an early bye this Sunday, Stacy's owners must obviously move him to the bench. After that, he'll get the Philadelphia Eagles, who are solid against the run. Still, they've allowed three receiving touchdowns to opposing backs, so the matchup is an intriguing test for Stacy's newly discovered pass-catching prowess.

He must face the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks twice apiece, but luckily St. Louis travels to Seattle in Week 17, when most fantasy leagues are over anyway. Those NFC West clashes represent his toughest matchups, but players need a very strong option to bench him.