Brandon Jacobs Injury: Ahmad Bradshaw Takes Advantage of Giants RB's Absence

With Brandon Jacobs out with a knee injury, the New York Giants needed Ahmad Bradshaw to carry the load, and boy, did he ever produce.

Bradshaw was a fantasy football stud for Big Blue, racking up 130 total yards and three touchdowns to help the Giants beat the Buffalo Bills, 27-24.

Bradshaw is coming off a highly-productive 2010 season, his first with more than 1,000 yards rushing. Sunday's performance, combined with a potentially prolonged absence for Jacobs, puts the 5'10", 214-pounder on track for yet another campaign above that plateau.

Then again, Jacobs could very well be back in action by the time New York gets back on the field after their bye, against the lowly Miami Dolphins in Week 8. Either way, Bradshaw is a solid back to have on your fantasy roster, though he obviously won't be able to help much while the G-Men are on vacation.

As for Jacobs, the big, bruising 'back, now 29-years-old, is fast approaching a point in his career at which running backs tend to struggle amidst declining health and diminished speed. Jacobs is a physical runner who naturally takes a beating every time he cradles the ball. He won't be nearly as productive as he normally would be if he's forced to play with fear of further injury.

That being said, at 6'4" and 264-pounds, Jacobs still figures to be the Giants' go-to guy on third downs and at the goal line when he returns.

There's no telling when exactly Jacobs will be back in action. In the meantime, be sure to stash away Bradshaw if you can. If you're in a deeper league and have some extra room on your roster, it may be worth your while to take a flier on D.J. Ware, New York's third-string 'back, who picked up 19 yards on five carries on Sunday. Ware isn't about to bust out for big yardage, but if Jacobs has to sit out for any length of time, he'll likely serve as the Giants' bigger 'back, with third-down and goal-line responsibilities to boot.