If you drafted a running back in Round 1, chances are you’re not very happy so far.
The only question is whether you’re mildly concerned (Ezekiel Elliott, David Johnson), mildly panicked (Todd Gurley, Devonta Freeman) or downright desperate (Adrian Peterson).
Our NFL Nation reporters will try to guide you through some of the replacement options:
Minnesota twins: Unfortunately there is no such thing as a Peterson handcuff. The Minnesota Vikings will turn to both Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata to fill the void while Peterson is out for at least two months, possibly the entire season. That’s bad news for Peterson owners, but the good news is that both players could have value in deeper leagues.
McKinnon was named the starter and he should get the most carries and catch some short passes. ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling said he wouldn’t be surprised to see McKinnon approach 100 combined rushing and receiving yards, especially with QB Sam Bradford looking to get rid of the ball quickly while left tackle Matt Kalil is injured.
However, Asiata proved to be a goal-line specialist with 10 touchdowns the last time Peterson was hurt in 2014, and the Vikings also like him on third downs as a pass protector and receiver. “McKinnon is the safer pickup of the two, but both are worth a look,” Goessling said.
Sims' big opportunity: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a much more obvious succession plan while Doug Martin is out with a hamstring injury. As ESPN Buccaneers reporter Jenna Laine pointed out, backup Charles Sims gained more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage last year as a runner/receiver, even while Martin was handling 72 percent of the rushing carries.
Sims is a different style of runner, so the Bucs have to work the edges more than going through the tackles like they do with Martin. But coach Dirk Koetter said he believes the 6-foot, 211-pound Sims can be a feature back.
Artis-Payne the Panther to own: The Carolina Panthers' situation falls somewhere between those other two. It’s a bit of a time-share, but second-year pro Cameron Artis-Payne has been named the starter -- and he has the chance to emerge as a leading man while Jonathan Stewart is out with a hamstring injury.
That may seem a bit odd since Artis-Payne was inactive the first two games and Fozzy Whittaker just ran for 100 yards last week after Stewart got hurt, but ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton was quick to point out that it’s all about roles. The Panthers view Artis-Payne as a similar physical runner who is best suited to replace Stewart when needed, while Whittaker is active every week because of his versatility on third downs and special teams.
As Newton wrote, Artis-Payne had 33 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown last year when Stewart missed the final three games. Fullback/RB Mike Tolbert had 17 carries and Whittaker had seven.
See if Crowell is available: The Cleveland Browns' Isaiah Crowell was drafted 41st among running backs in ESPN leagues this year. And he is still available in more than 10 percent of them, despite ranking fifth among all running backs in fantasy scoring so far (195 rushing yards, two touchdowns).
The biggest concern with Crowell heading into the season was that he might get supplanted by second-year RB Duke Johnson. But ESPN Browns reporter Pat McManamon said Crowell looked more explosive than ever last week and he believes Crowell will continue to be the main guy, with Johnson in a change-of-pace role. The problem is that defenses will likely stack the box against Crowell with rookie Cody Kessler at quarterback.
Start Michael, save Rawls: Seattle Seahawks RB Christine Michael is another great fill-in option this week, since he should carry a heavy load while Thomas Rawls deals with a shin injury. But ESPN Seahawks reporter Sheil Kapadia stressed that you should stay patient with Rawls, despite his slow start and injury issues.
“Stash him on your bench until he has a good game and looks healthy, but there’s definitely still RB1 upside,” Kapadia said. “The coaches still believe in him, and there will be plenty of touches to go around in this offense.”
"Buyer beware" in Miami: ESPN Miami Dolphins reporter James Walker’s advice this week was "buyer beware" while starter Arian Foster is out with a groin injury. Second-year pro Jay Ajayi is the best bet, but he probably will split time with Kenyan Drake -- and maybe Isaiah Pead and Damien Williams too.
Don’t give up on Gurley: There aren’t injury issues in L.A. -- just eight-men-in-the-box issues. Actually, Gurley said Friday that he feels like he’s seeing "12 men on the field" with defenses so stacked against him. As Rams reporter Alden Gonzalez pointed out, Gurley is averaging only 0.89 yards before first contact. But Gonzalez believes things will turn around because it’s such a heavy emphasis for the Rams to get Gurley going. They had more success with the play-action pass last week, which could help. And as QB Case Keenum said, "Todd is going to get going. It’s Todd."
Keep faith in Ingram: I also recommend patience with Mark Ingram. As I wrote this week in my New Orleans Saints coverage, there is no reason to be concerned about Ingram’s role or performance. He is New Orleans’ clear No. 1 back, an every-down option who will catch passes and get goal-line carries, just like the past two years. The only problem is the same as it has always been -- the Saints are often quick to abandon the running game, which can lead to inconsistent touches. Ingram will still mix in a handful of touchdowns and 100-yard games, though, and that could start Monday night.