Arian Foster Injury: Why You Must Bench Texans RB, Start Ben Tate

According to Pro Football Talk, Arian Foster is not expected to play in Week 3. 

At the beginning of the year, everyone was talking about how Foster's injury could linger the entire season.  Here we are at Week 3, and the hamstring is still an issue.  The Texans may need to decide on whether to hold Foster out for a few games or risk loosing him for the season.

I pity those fantasy football owners that decided to select Foster.  He was likely a top-five pick, only increasing the misery.  If you were wise enough to secure Foster's handcuff, you might be in a less unfortunate position.  Ben Tate is a real fantasy option and a must-start each week.

Last season, many experts were expecting Tate to have the big season.  However, a season-ending injury opened the door for Foster.  It appears that Tate is making his move, and could very well force a time share.

This situation is a nightmare for Foster owners.  His injury means you have to keep him out of your lineup, but now it could mean he is in a time share situation.  If Foster is forced to share carries, his fantasy value is greatly decreased.

At this point, fantasy owners should feel safe starting Tate.  However, the long-term future of both of these backs is cloudy.  One could argue that owning Tate is the better situation, as hamstring injuries have a tendency of lingering.

Both Tate and Foster have a significant injury history, meaning Derrick Ward might be worth a roster spot.  The Texans have shown they are capable of opening running lanes, meaning whoever the starting running back is should be considered a fantasy starter.

It could be a long season for a ton of fantasy owners, as owning an injury-prone star is frustrating.

Jon Dove is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report, covering the NFL and NFL draft. Check him out on Twitter @Jon_Dove42 .