The Rotation Continues

Who ya gonna play at RB next week?

That's what this year is quickly turning into. The RBBC reality gets even more interesting after this past week, as Jahvid Best, Ray Rice and Steven Jackson all suffered injuries that forced them from the field. Willis McGahee is an obvious pickup if he's available, if even only for a week. The situations in St. Louis and Detroit are far more blurry.

Tonight's Green Bay game is demonstrating why James Starks is a terrific IR stash and even a decent roster burn if you have the space. The Packers' running game is hardly impressive WITH Ryan Grant, but it's non-existent without him. I applaud the respective willingness and effort put in by both Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn, but neither is suited for a featureback role. The latest reports have Starks running at full speed, so he should be 100 percent by Week 7, and I'm willing to hazard a guess he's given an immediate crack at the job.

My hot tip item from last week, Chris Ivory looked pretty amateur yesterday against Atlanta. BUT they did give him the ball in several short yardage situations, AND went back to him even after he fumbled. Now they're talking about getting him the ball 10 times a game, and you can bet some of those will be at the goalline. He definitely has a shot to be this year's Mike Bell, with more explosive upside. And as the No. 2 until Reggie Bush is out, he gets even more of a bump up. One near-miss Pierre Thomas knee-injury yesterday almost defaulted Ivory into THE featureback of the New Orleans Saints.

I was right on picking up a New England RB for yesterday's Buffalo cakewalk, but I picked the wrong guy. BenJarvus Green-Ellis turned into much better than an emergency play after Taylor aggravated a toe injury. Back to my earlier point, however, and that is neither guy is much use beyond last week due to a difficult schedule and impossible-to-predict usage.

I was also right on not rushing to pick up Keiland Williams, but not for all the right reasons. Shanahan's RB woodwork is working again, as Ryan Torain is now the No. 2 in Washington, and may get a shot at a split or better with Portis. Williams is totally off the radar.

I didn't mention LeGarrette Blount Thursday because I didn't believe he would become relevant so quickly. I was still thinking about Kareem Huggins, who is still part of the equation. Blount is a prototypical power back - a great early-down, short-yardage or ice-the-game crusher. Originally touted as a possible early-round draft pick, he was pretty much forgotten after getting suspended for his senior season at Oregon for taking a cheap shot at an opposing player during an on-field altercation. Tennessee took a look at him in training camp, but he has a much better shot to be worthwhile in Tampa Bay. Huggins is more of a dancer, so probably better as a change-of-pace guy. One, if not both, will be more valuable than Cadillac by midseason. Blount looked solid in limited action on Sunday, averaging 4.5 yards per rush against a tough Pittsburgh defense. You add him before Huggins if you want to roll the dice there. The downside is Tampa Bay has its bye next week, so you have to wait longer to see if your claim pays any return.