Arian Foster Injury: Updates on Texans Star's Week 4 Status and Fantasy Value

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster's season has not started out the way anyone was expecting, but his future is looking a little brighter as we head into Week 4 of the NFL season. His hamstring injury has been wreaking havoc on him, the team and the fantasy owners who were counting on him to be the star of their offense.

The team has handled Foster's injury the right way, so when he does return, expect him to be ready to go full bore.

For updates and fantasy analysis regarding Foster's hamstring injury, check back here periodically for all the latest.

UPDATE: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 10:15 p.m. EDT

We know that Foster had a great game on Sunday against the Steelers, and we know that he's insisting that his hamstring is just fine, but that doesn't necessarily mean Foster was feeling tip-top after the game.

Courtesy of the Texans' official Twitter feed:

The part that caught my attention is Foster saying he's "sore." He didn't directly refer to his hamstring, but he kept it vague enough to make one wonder.

My guess is that this is nothing to get alarmed about, but I still think Foster's status is going to be worth monitoring as we speed towards Week 5.

UPDATE: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 5:35 p.m. EDT

That the Texans were able to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10 on Sunday probably would been awesome enough. That they saw Arian Foster return to form in a big way is a bonus.

After battling a nagging hamstring injury in the first three weeks of the season Foster started and ended up notching 155 yards rushing on 30 carries. He scored a touchdown on a 42-yard scamper in the fourth quarter, and he also had three receptions.

After the game, the team's official Twitter feed passed along word that Foster was feeling just fine:

Now, because we've heard something like this from Foster before, you have to take his word for what it's worth. He could very well be guilty of wishful thinking again.

That being said, he certainly looked 100 percent against the Steelers, which is a huge relief for fantasy owners across the country. Until further notice, they can feel safe starting Foster.

UPDATE: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2:58 p.m. EDT

With 19 carries for 94 yards at halftime, it looks like the hamstring injury that plagues the back earlier in the season is good enough to run all over with Pittsburgh Steelers.

With an injury to backup running back Ben Tate in the game as well, the focus on Foster will be even more as the day progresses. If you started him, it should be easy sailing for the rest of the game.

UPDATE: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 10:25 a.m. EDT

The Houston Texans will need all hands on deck today when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that includes star running back Arian Foster and his injured hamstring.

Houston Texans writer Nick Scurfield is reporting on twitter about the coaching staff’s commitment to running Foster hard:

While it is always dangerous to play a running back that’s coming off an injury that he re-aggravated before, Arian Foster has the talent and the offensive line to bust out for a stellar game against a tough Steelers defense.

Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 5:00 p.m. EST

The more information that comes out, the more it sounds like Foster will be back in the Texans' lineup this week. He is going against a good, but not great, Pittsburgh defense, and since he is starting the team must feel that he is 100 percent, or at least as close to 100 percent as a person can get.

We will have to wait and see how he does at practice on Wednesday, but I would urge fantasy owners to start Foster this week.

Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET

Head Coach Gary Kubiak is optimistic that Foster will finally be able to handle a normal practice schedule this week and play a full game this week against Pittsburgh, according to Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com. 

If Foster is good to go, the Texans offense will be even better than it has been. They have put up a lot of points this season, but have struggled in the red zone.

Foster will undoubtedly make them even more lethal because he can put the ball in the end zone when they get close.