Sunday's fantasy takeaways: So many running back injuries
If fantasy football owners take anything away from Week 2, it's that they must have a backup plan. Several NFL teams were forced to go to Plan B on Sunday when injuries hit important skill players.
The New England Patriots, already without tight end Rob Gronkowski and quarterback Tom Brady, lost backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo to a shoulder injury -- but only after he had thrown for 234 yards and three touchdowns in a pass-heavy first half.
After the break, the Pats simply turned to their ground game featuring LeGarrette Blount, who rushed 29 times for 123 yards and a touchdown.
The extent of Garoppolo's injury will be even more important with a short week coming up. Gronkowski could return for Thursday's game against the Houston Texans, but Brady is suspended for two more games.
Running back carnage
No fewer than five other teams had key running backs leave before halftime due to injury.
-- Arian Foster of the Miami Dolphins gained 9 yards on three carries before he was sidelined by a groin strain. Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake combined for just 26 additional yards as the Dolphins were forced to play catch up. But Drake did score a touchdown, so look for him to be a popular waiver pickup this week.
-- Doug Martin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers exited in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. He produced just 23 yards on seven carries before being replaced by Charles Sims.
-- The Detroit Lions lost Ameer Abdullah when he hurt his foot on an impressive 24-yard run. Pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick became even more involved in the running game with 11 carries for 37 yards -- to go along with his four receptions for 28 yards.
If the injuries to either Martin or Abdullah are significant, Sims and Riddick could move into RB1 consideration with the extra workload.
-- Jonathan Stewart of the Carolina Panthers had five carries and two receptions for 16 total yards when he exited with an ankle injury. Backup Fozzy Whitaker stepped up with the first 100-yard game of his career, hitting that total on the nose in 16 carries. Quarterback Cam Newton also helped pick up the slack with 353 passing yards and four TDs.
-- Although he isn't a starter, Danny Woodhead of the San Diego Chargers twisted his knee as he was wrestled to the ground on a reception. The snakebit Chargers have now lost important offensive cogs in consecutive weeks after wideout Keenan Allen tore a knee ligament in the opener and will miss the rest of the season.
-- And finally, in the Sunday night game, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings made it into the third quarter before he had to be carried to the locker room with an injury to his right knee. For the second week in a row, Peterson was unable to find much running room. When he left the game, Peterson had 19 yards on 12 carries.
All about the Benjamins
Our weekly honor for the player who single-handedly carried his fantasy owners to victory goes to Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who hauled in seven passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. In point-per-reception leagues, his performance was worth a tidy 29.8 fantasy points.
The runner-up: Chargers wideout Travis Benjamin, who snagged six passes for 115 yards and a pair of scores. With the loss of Woodhead and Allen, quarterback Philip Rivers needs a go-to receiver -- and it appears he's found one.