Ahmad Bradshaw Injury: 5 Potential RB Replacements for Giants Star

Crushing news for Ahmad Bradshaw fantasy owners. Not only did he crack a bone in his foot during Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, but to add insult to injury, the news didn’t come out until Thursday.

That leaves you scrambling to find a solid replacement in a year where running backs are at a premium.

Although the waiver wire is getting thin, consider these five running backs that are available in at least 50 percent of all ESPN standard leagues.

Not only are they worth starting this week, but will fill the Bradshaw void all the way to the fantasy playoffs. 

5. Kevin Faulk—New England Patriots

Faulk is back and has immediately vaulted to the top of the depth chart after getting a ton of action right off the bat last week against the Steelers.

Faulk played 39 snaps, BenJarvus Green-Ellis played 13, Danny Woodhead played four and Stevan Ridley played zero.

Considering he is 35 years old and coming off ACL tear, getting that many snaps right away is very telling. Clearly, coach Bill Belichick trusts him and isn’t afraid to leave him in during crucial stretches of the fourth quarter.

It’s a crapshoot when you go with a Patriots running back, but this week they have a very favorable matchup against the Giants on deck. Only four teams give up more rushing yards per game than the G-Men.

Faulk is a boom or bust pick—but worth a start this week—and for a few more favorable matchups down the line. 

4. Chris Ogbonnaya—Cleveland Browns

This is more of a short-term solution.

Montario Hardesty lasted two carries as the starter before going down with a calf injury last week.

He’ll be out for at least the next two weeks.

Peyton Hillis is still dealing with hamstring injury, with no real urgency to come back quickly considering how badly the Browns are treating him regarding his potential contract extension.

That means Ogbonnaya is the starter by fault. The big and burly back registered 61 yards on 16 touches last week. Nothing special, but anytime you can pick up a guy poised for 15-20 touches against a mediocre Texans defense, it’s a safe move, especially with the Rams on deck after that.

3. Tashard Choice—Washington Redskins

This is for the next few weeks, not Week 9.

He signed with the ‘Skins over the weekend and is not going to be caught up on the playbook after just a few days of practice around his new teammates.

The versatile back should be worth a start in Week 10 against Miami, then again against his old team the Cowboys in Week 11.

The ‘Skins running game is impossible to predict, but it seems as if the fresh blood gets him his shot to prove himself rather quickly. It has happened with both Ryan Torain and Roy Hulu already.

Choice is the next man up.

Stash him on the bench for now, and consider playing him for the foreseeable future after that.

2. Javon Ringer—Tennessee Titans

This has more to do with Chris Johnson more than anything else.

CJ2K is not living up to his nickname and has been so bad that the highest paid running back in the league was benched in the fourth quarter of last week’s game.

Ringer cashed in by running for 44 yards in the quarter, finishing with 60 yards on 14 carries.

Johnson will start against Cincinnati, but expect Ringer to get at least 10-15 touches once again. Don’t forget, he is a capable pass catcher out of the backfield as well.

The Titans' coaching staff has told the media they plan on managing the running back situation on a game-by-game basis, which means Ringer may be the starter by this time next week.

1. Maurice Morris—Detroit Lions

Morris won the battle of the backups over Keiland Williams against the Broncos and is now a worthy start, as Jahvid Best continues to deal with concussion issues.

He finished with 13 carries for 58 yards and a TD with a catch for seven yards to boot. It was an encouraging sign to see Morris’ number get called when the Lions were on the goal line.

He won’t be a great start for the rest of the season, but Morris is the perfect flex start for the next few weeks. After this week’s bye, the Lions get Carolina, Green Bay and New Orleans in three of the next four games—all teams with poor numbers against the run.