Joseph Addai Hurt, Fantasy Owners Pick-up Delone Carter

Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai knew right away something was wrong with his hamstring just six carries into the 28-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

In the first quarter, Addai took the hand-off over the left side of the line and immediately felt something wrong with his hamstring. The Colts' running back left the game and never returned, but is confident that the injury is not serious.

Addai, the Colts and fantasy owners everywhere will know more after Monday’s MRI results.

For fantasy owners out there, the news is especially painful since Addai and the Colts running game was going to be featured for the rest of the season with the inexperience at quarterback. Therefore, if you happen to own Addai – who had an 86-yard, TD performance just two weeks ago – Delone Carter and/or Donald Brown need to be added to your roster.

Carter, the first year back out of Syracuse, got 12 carries and scored a touchdown in Addai’s absecnce. Brown, a former first round pick, saw fewer carries (8) and didn’t score but was more effective. Brown averaged 4.8 yards per carry while Carter posted an anemic 1.8 clip. Carter had two catches and Brown failed to register a reception.

Brown, on the surface, appears like a more dependable option. He was a first-round pick and has a huge edge in experience. Yet, Brown also has been injury prone and inconsistent.

The right pick-up is likely to be Delone Carter. He has 41 carries on the season for 125 yards and a score while Brown’s eight carries were his first of the season. And on the surface the next two match-ups seem like solid starts for Carter. The Colts head to Cincinnati this weekend and then visit New Orleans the next weekend.

Temper your expectations, however. The Bengals rank fifth in the NFL in scoring by allowing only 18.8 points per game. You might also be surprised to know that the 279.6 yards per game allowed by Cincinnati is the best mark in the NFL. They are seventh in the NFL in rushing defense (88.6). The Saints are actually the much better match-up – if the Colts can keep the score close enough to keep running the ball. New Orleans is allowing 5.2 yards per carry and a middle-of-the-pack 107.6 yards per game. Keep this mind next weekend when setting your line-up.

With Addai claiming the injury isn’t serious and looking to return shortly, grab Carter if you are desperate, but understand that the Bengals and Saints don’t offer as easy a match-up as you may think.

- by Braden Gall (@AthlonBraden on twitter)