Packers RB Ryan Grant on board for 2011
I guess you can forget the speculation that the Green Bay Packers would cut Ryan Grant , and James Starks
would open the season as the team's starting running back. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Packers have paid Grant his $1.75 million roster bonus, meaning that he will be with the team this year and competing against Starks for touches.
Green tore ankle ligaments in week one last year and missed the rest of the season. Prior to that, he had posted back-to-back seasons of at least 1,200 rushing yards.
Fantasy Analysis:
I'm not sure how the Packers will handle their running backs, but I'd rather have Grant more than anyone else right now. Yes, he's coming off of a major injury, but he's had about 11 months to recover and don't forget what he did in 2008 and 2009. Starks had a few decent games last season, but it's not like he set the league on fire when he had the chance. I expect Grant to defeat him in any sort of training-camp battle.
That doesn't mean Starks will be completely shut out; he'll get a reasonable amount of carries, certainly enough to cap Grant's fantasy value at a mid-range RB2 in drafts.
Also, rookie Alex Green seems to be a sneaky deep sleeper, and he might see some action. Definitely keep an eye on this trio during Packers camp.
Source:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel