Oakland Raiders starting running back Marshawn Lynch is set to miss at least a month of action with a groin injury as per NFL Networks Ian Rapoport.
Sources: #Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch is out at least a month because of a groin injury. Lynch had his MRI this week. Oakland is on a bye, but the bad news continues.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2018
If missing a month of action were not bad enough for one of the worst teams in the league, Rapoport also reports that being sent to the injured reserve list has not been ruled out.
My understanding is that Injured Reserve is a strong possibility. Not good. https://t.co/Pq0QujUpHX
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2018
This is a big blow to a terrible Oakland Raiders team that at least could boast a decent run game with Lynch averaging 4.2 yards per carry. The Raiders will now be forced to turn to a rather uninspiring combo of Doug Martin and Jalen Richard but could scour the trade market for a back like Ameer Abdullah.
Fantasy Context:
Doug Martin looks set to step in as the starter for the Raiders, making his questionable offseason addition now look at little more shrewd in hindsight. With that said Doug Martin has looked like he should be out of the NFL the last two years as he averaged no better than 2.9 yards per carry in either year. Martin looks like a bye week RB3 who range varies from flex2 to bench depth stash during non bye weeks until he can prove that he has anything left in the tank. Game script is not likely to be kind to Martin as a member of the Raiders severely impacting his potential fantasy upside as a newly anointed starter. Martin has seen his ownership jump to 16 percent from four percent since the announcement of this news and should be added wherever needed in deeper leagues.
Jalen Richard is looking like he may see a heavy workload going forward for the Raiders. With there 2018 season all but over already there should be every reason to give Richard a serious look in an effort to determine where he fits into the Raiders plans in 2019 and beyond. The Raiders already know what they have or don’t have with Doug Martin and should have little motivation to give him a featured role. Regardless of who actually ‘starts’ in this backfield Richard looks like weekly threat to see more touches in this backfield and is the preferred option in PPR leagues until further notice. Richard could be an interesting DFS play in week nine depending on where he is slotted salary wise on the different platforms. Strangely Richard’s ownership levels have only spiked eight percent so far today, so be sure to check your wire to see if you are in one of the 86 percent of yahoo leagues he is still available in.
