Fantasy Spin on Demarco Murray Injury

Posted by Scott P in Injury Report, RB Upgrades/Downgrades, Upgrades/Downgrades, Week 14 2011, Week 15 2011 No Comments »

NEWS

Demarco Murray’s fantastic rookie season does not have a happy ending. The stellar rookie Cowboy RB has been placed on IR with a fractured ankle. Felix Jones stepped in after ran all over the New York Giants. We all know Jones is an injury waiting to happen but during the 16 carry, 106 yard performance he looked like a different, more aggressive runner. The Cowboys face the Buccaneers next who are giving up the most fantasy points per game to running backs and they follow that up with the Eagles who are surrendering the 9th most fantasy points per game.

VIEWS

FFToolbox.com has Felix Jones ranked 11th in their Week 15 RB rankings.

As SI.com reports, this injury should not affect Demarco Murray for 2012.

Here is something to think about, ProFootballFocus.com did their things and took a deep look at the statistics and the context of those stats and came away with the opinion that Murray was not really more effective on a per carry basis adjusted to competition than Felix Jones.

FANTASY FOOTBALL SPIN

Felix Jones owners should be excited to have him back as a very nice option for the playoffs. Not only that, if Jones plays like he did in Week 14 for the rest of the season he is going to stake his claim to a larger role next year. Jones is seen as a change of pace back, but he looked like more than that, for the first time in a long time, last week. He says that he learned something about running tough by watching Murray while he was out with his own ankle injury and it showed.

None of this is good news for Demarco Murray. We still like Murray as a RB#2 for 2012 at this point, but he will be sharing carries with Felix Jones. Strange as it may sound, Murray may not be the top Sophomore RB heading into 2012 fantasy drafts. Roy Helu is surging (but you have to factor in the Shanahan factor – unless he gets canned). No doubt, Murray still has great value in dynasty leagues, however.