Eddie Lacy, James Starks' Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 6

The Green Bay Packers entered Week 6 with the NFL's 25th-ranked rushing offense, and running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks again found production hard to come by Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

Expectations were high for Lacy to start 2014 in particular, since he'd come off a maiden season that saw him win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Fantasy owners have been mostly disappointed, though, because Lacy has just one 100-yard performance and had even failed to crack 50 yards on the ground in four of five previous games.    

The struggles continued Sunday at Sun Life Stadium for Lacy, and Starks continues to be a modest contributor to the Packers' game plan.

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times was critical of Lacy's performance:

Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers conducts coach Mike McCarthy's West Coast offense with impeccable precision. The air is where Rodgers' rare flair continues to drive the Packers to success. The charge to the team's comeback victory was keyed by Rodgers through the air.

Lackluster blocking has been to blame for Green Bay's difficulties in running the football, in the opinion of the Green Bay Post-Gazette's Ryan Wood:

Name	CAR	YDS	REC	YDS	TD	Fantasy Points
Eddie Lacy	14	40	0	0	0	4
James Starks	8	31	2	11	0	4

The best way to combat that issue is to throw the ball quickly and let the Packers' playmakers get it done after the catch. That will lessen the backfield's role by default.

Whatever little value Starks has as a fantasy commodity is diminished by Rodgers' prolific passing, while Lacy has not been the force of nature he was last year thus far.

It's wise to be patient with Lacy, though. His blend of agility, vision and power is matched by few, and his hard-nosed running style should eventually lend to more consistent touchdown production. After failing to find the end zone in the first three games, Lacy scored three times in the two previous contests.

Returns may be minimal on the considerable investment fantasy owners made on Lacy, but he is still a strong RB2 with RB1 upside in the second half of the year. Trading him after Week 6 wouldn't net much in return, so patience is the proper practice for now.

Unless fantasy owners are strapped for flex options in extremely deep leagues, that is the only situation Starks appears to be a sound choice to add on the waiver wire. Owned in 52.4 percent of ESPN.com leagues, that number ought to drop, since Lacy is so established as Green Bay's feature back.