According to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston, New England Patriots No. 1 running back Fred Taylor is going to undergo surgery to repair his injured right ankle. The 33-year-old running back hurt his ankle on his seventh and final carry against the Ravens this past Sunday. No real timetable has been set for Taylor's return following this procedure, except that Reiss reports that it won't cost him the season unless there are complications.Taylor, an offseason free agent acquisition, leads the Pats' backfield committee in carries (45), yards (201), yards per carry (4.5) and touchdowns (2). Expect Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk to all receive an increased workload with Taylor sidelined.
Fantasy Football Spin:
Obviously, this is a bit of a blow to Taylor owners. He had shown the ability to play like an RB2 when given a full load in Week 3, when he carried the ball 21 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. Don't go dropping him just yet, because we haven't heard definitively if this report is true or exactly how long he'll be out from team sources.
If he is out for an extended time, Morris is a good add in mid-size leagues on up. He'll likely get the most touches, be utilized in the passing game and get goal-line carries. Maroney will have a crack at carries, but he hasn't had as much success in the past two seasons as Morris has. He's rosterable only in incredibly deep leagues as running back depth. Faulk also looks to see an increase in touches, but most of his damage will be done through the air. In really deep PPR leagues, Faulk is worth a look at as an RB4. Don't discount BenJarvus Green-Ellis in this mix, either, but he's not an add right now anywhere. Morris is the clear winner in this situation.
