Are we overusing Foster?

[GuerillaBlack]

Yes he is being overused. Should have been all Tate on that last drive.

[HJam72]

Foster still got about 5 too many carries today. Tate wasn't getting the job done (5 for 11 yds.), but Forsett could have been given a shot.

[noxiousdog]

24 carries today. Still too high, imo.

[Ryan]

I think most of you would probably like to reconsider your "no" votes by now. No reason for him to be in there late in the game like that.

[Dread-Head]

Kubiak better have some serious pass offense ready for the post season if we are, because I can promise you that if we're strictly a run team defensive lines will be studying game film and will be VERY prepared for the Texans in the playoffs.

I don't want to see this man used like Earl Campbell was.

[Dutchrudder]

Well, he's on pace for 412 carries now, a bit lower than the 432 from before, but still too high. We really need to utilize the backup RBs more. Hell, I wouldn't mind seeing Holliday get a run around the edge.

[sometexansfan]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-more-carries/

[Lady.Gaga.3000]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...headline_stack

Only five players have reached the 400 Club. Unless your name is Eric Dickerson or perhaps Eddie George, you're never the same after it. Larry Johnson is still looking for his burst under the couch cushions.

[Scooter]

i am starting to worry a little. he's already over 100 carries and even close to this pace will start to wear down when we need him most - postseason.

[CloakNNNdagger]

A MUST READ: Effect of Running Back Carries
on Future Production on this very subject that I just fortuitously came across, published today. It covers, in in-depth detail, the very subject we have been debating here.

In fantasy football, it's often difficult to predict which fantasy players will have a significant drop-off in production from one year to the next. This can yield devastating consequences for your team during your fantasy football draft, as you pay a premium price for a player just to have them crush your team with a very substandard season that did not warrant their high draft status. In this article, we will analyze yet another factor that can contribute to a disappointing fantasy season: The effect of Running Back Carries ( Running Back Attempts ).

Running backs are one of the crucial positions in most fantasy football leagues. While running backs can provide a consistently high source of fantasy points week in and week out and are in high demand on fantasy draft day, they are also prone to suffering a significant decrease in production after carrying the ball too many times in the preceding season. A running back's body is a machine, and, like all machines, they can only perform their function so many times before they must be replaced by a newer version (or sent in for repair). With that in mind, there are two measures (absolute and relative) to evaluate the wear and tear of running backs:

1. The absolute measure of the number of carries (attempts) a running back has had in the previous season (Table 1).
2. The relative measure in the increase in the number of carries from season to season (Table 2).

Both of these measures are indicators for a potential drop-off in production from one season to the next, and we have compiled two tables to help illustrate these points. Table 1 lists every NFL player that has experienced a workload of 370 carries or more in a season (through 2011) followed by their performance in the subsequent season.

Yes, this is a fantasy site. But it has an unbelievably detailed breakdown (with easy-to-review table presentation) of what has happened to all the top high-carry NFL RBs following their work horse exposures..........and, with very isolated exception, it's not very good news at all. If it teaches you anything, it is that the human body has it's limitations.

[steelbtexan]

They paid Foster, now they're using Foster. As it should be. Tate will be getting 10-15 carries a game as usual as the season wears on. No need to fret.

[TexanSam]

Originally Posted by steelbtexan

They paid Foster, now they're using Foster. As it should be. Tate will be getting 10-15 carries a game as usual as the season wears on. No need to fret.

And at this rate, we'll be paying him for four extra years of bad productivity after this season if he goes over 400 carries this year. Maybe he won't wear down if he does carry the load that much, but history suggests otherwise.

I'd rather not have another Shaun Alexander situation.

[Ryan]

Plus it's not like Foster is on a pace for a 2000 yard season either, he hasn't even scratched the 4 ypc surface.

[TexansFanatic]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Plus it's not like Foster is on a pace for a 2000 yard season either, he hasn't even scratched the 4 ypc surface.

He still gets hit every with every carry. Doesn't matter if he's gained one yard or ten, he's taken some punishment.

EDIT: Never mind. I think I see your point now.

[Yankee_In_TX]

Carries by game:

1. 26
2. 28
3. 25
4. 24


Just FYI

[disaacks3]

In the Long term? - YES, we are overusing him.

In the Short term? - No, not until I see Arian get fully on-track for one game. I want to see 150+ w/ a 40+ yarder i there before I think our running game looks "normal" again. Once that happens, 50/50 it all you want. Until it does, keep feeding him (steak pun inferred).

[The Pencil Neck]

We all knew that the line was going to be a work in progress this season. And THIS is what we get for that. If our line opens up the holes, Foster will get through them. But even if we run to the left, the right side has to take care of business. Right now, we don't have the Elephants On Parade* working like Gibbs always talked about. The whole line and the wide receivers have to do their jobs and right now, we've got some issues.

So Foster's ypc is going down. Kubes still feels more comfortable with him running the ball than Tate (especially after that fumble that let Denver back in the game.)

Foster's going to get a lot of touches until either Tate steps up or Foster breaks.

[HOU-TEX]

We've had 20+ point leads in these first 4 games. I reckon any RB would have an extensive amount of carries if their team was up 20 in every game. Will this happen every week? I highly doubt it.

Right now, this is no issue to me

[NitroGSXR]

Originally Posted by TexanSam

And at this rate, we'll be paying him for four extra years of bad productivity after this season if he goes over 400 carries this year. Maybe he won't wear down if he does carry the load that much, but history suggests otherwise.

I'd rather not have another Shaun Alexander situation.

4 years? Let's just focus on going to New Orleans right now. Arian's our first class ticket plane ride there. Like steelbtexan said, we're paying him.

[HJam72]

Originally Posted by NitroGSXR

4 years? Let's just focus on going to New Orleans right now. Arian's our first class ticket plane ride there. Like steelbtexan said, we're paying him.

Problem is we could get close and he could be gassed. I know we have Tate, but we may need every advantage. We could even get there (New Orleans) and suddenly he's gassed. Or, this could turn out to be not our year like we think. Maybe it's next year, but, uh-oh, Foster's done...

Besides, you don't take a talent like Foster and just burn him out. I could go with the argument that this is only happening as long as we have 20 point leads, but it has to stop--scratch that; slow down--at some point or there's likely going to be unforeseen knee issues.