Arian Foster/Ben Tate/Steve Slaton Fantasy News 2010/2011

HacheMan · Jul 21, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Foster, Slaton to open year atop depth chart? </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Arian Foster - RB - HOU - Jul. 21 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Stephanie Stradley of AOL Fanhouse predicts that Arian Foster and Steve Slaton will open the season as the team's top two tailbacks.
Stradley expects rookie Ben Tate to be eased in as he learns the offense and protections, assuming Foster doesn't get hurt or Slaton (neck) has a setback. In this scenario -- which is currently the safest guess -- Foster would likely handle the majority of early-down work with Slaton acting as a passing-down back and pace change. The most talented back in Houston, Tate still isn't a poor bet to accrue the most fantasy value by the end of the season.
Source: AOL NFL Fanhouse

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HacheMan · Aug 11, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kubiak: Tate has had an 'up and down' camp </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Ben Tate - RB - HOU - Aug. 10 - 1:03 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Coach Gary Kubiak described rookie Ben Tate's training camp performance thus far as "up and down."
"He’s every bit the talent that we drafted," Kubiak said. "He’s learning to be a pro. He has to catch up because he missed a lot time because he missed OTAs. He needs to know to get his motor going when he leaves out of the locker room and not 30 minutes into practice ... He could help this team if he continues to grow up." We still like Tate in Dynasty leagues, but it would be an upset if he works his way into a major role by the season opener.
Source: houstontexans.com
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HacheMan · Aug 12, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Foster, Slaton to both run with starters Fri. </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Arian Foster - RB - HOU - Aug. 12 - 11:12 a.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Coach Gary Kubiak said that Arian Foster and Steve Slaton will both work with the starters in the Texans' exhibition opener Friday.
Not a huge surprise here. We know rookie Ben Tate is far off the pace in this battle and we also know that Foster is the heavy favorite for early down work. It will be interesting to see how often -- if it all -- Slaton is used outside of passing situations.
Source: Nick Scurfield on Twitter
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HacheMan · Aug 15, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Report: Ben Tate could be done for season </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Ben Tate - RB - HOU - Aug. 15</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>The Houston Chronicle's John McClain believes the ankle injury suffered by RB Ben Tate in Saturday's preseason opener could be season-ending.
McClain is hearing that Tate's ankle is broken. The Chronicle's columnist Jerome Solomon also cites a source close to Tate as saying the injury "does not look good and could be major." The Texans are expected to have an announcement on Sunday. What seemed like a newly deep backfield suddenly looks like the Arian Foster Show after Tate's injury and Steve Slaton's fumbling issues resurfacing.
Source: John McClain on Twitter
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HacheMan · Aug 15, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Foster sitting pretty in Texans' backfield </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Arian Foster - RB - HOU - Aug. 14 -</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Arian Foster started the Texans' preseason opener against the Cardinals Saturday night, rushing four times for 31 yards.
Foster had the first two series to himself, ripping off of an impressive 21-yard gain on his first carry. The favorite in Houston's backfield did nothing to lose his hold on the job while fumble-prone Steve Slaton coughed it up again at the goal-line. Rookie Ben Tate was later carted to the locker room with what looked like a multi-week ankle injury. Foster has lengthened his lead in this race.
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HacheMan · Aug 15, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Report: Ben Tate headed for injured reserve </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Ben Tate - RB - HOU - Aug. 15 - 5:58 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>The Houston Chronicle reports that Ben Tate will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing ankle surgery on Tuesday.
Coach Gary Kubiak characterized Tate's injury as "very significant," and Chronicle beat reporter John McClain is confident that Tate's season is over before it began. Arian Foster should continue his scream up fantasy boards. Chris Henry and Jeremiah Johnson are candidates for third string. The club could also take a look at free agents like Ladell Betts and Tatum Bell.
Source: Houston Chronicle
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HacheMan · Aug 16, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Texans formally place Tate on injured reserve </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Ben Tate - RB - HOU - Aug. 16 - 4:05 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Texans placed RB Ben Tate (ankle) on injured reserve, ending his season.
He'll have surgery Tuesday and should be 100 percent by 20<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top rowSpan=5 width=100 align=middle>

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Texans formally place Tate on injured reserve </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Ben Tate - RB - HOU - Aug. 16 - 4:05 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Texans placed RB Ben Tate (ankle) on injured reserve, ending his season.
He'll have surgery Tuesday and should be 100 percent by 2011 training camp. Losing the opportunity to impress the coaching staff in-season after a hamstring pull washed out Tate's entire spring, however, is a big blow to his long-term outlook. Arian Foster and a healthy Steve Slaton will state their case to be Houston's primary backs going forward. Tate, meanwhile, will have to stay off the shelf next year to earn any kind of a role.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>11 training camp. Losing the opportunity to impress the coaching staff in-season after a hamstring pull washed out Tate's entire spring, however, is a big blow to his long-term outlook. Arian Foster and a healthy Steve Slaton will state their case to be Houston's primary backs going forward. Tate, meanwhile, will have to stay off the shelf next year to earn any kind of a role.
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HacheMan · Aug 20, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Report: Foster starter, Slaton change of pace </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Arian Foster - RB - HOU - Aug. 20 - 3:00 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>ESPN's Paul Kuharsky confirms that the Texans "definitely" consider Arian Foster to be their starting running back this season.
Steve Slaton will "ideally" be utilized as a change-of-pace back, primarily on passing downs. This is how we've seen the Texans backfield shaping up for some time now, and it makes all the sense in the world. Foster is a big back with solid all-around skills while Slaton struggles to run inside and has concerns about a heavy workload. Foster should be locked in as a low-end RB2 in fantasy drafts this year.
Source: ESPN.com
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HacheMan · Aug 20, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kubiak: Foster 'is becoming hell of a player' </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Arian Foster - RB - HOU - Aug. 20 - 10:42 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Texans coach Gary Kubiak believes that starting running back Arian Foster is "becoming a hell of a football player."
We heard rumblings of Foster's lackadaisical attitude late last year, but he's put them to bed while earning the complete trust of Houston's coaching staff. "The way he practices and prepares, the way he goes about his business with blitz pickup, he's going to be a good one," added Kubiak. "He did a 360. ... Something clicked. He's doing everything we're asking him to do."
Source: houstontexans.com
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HacheMan · Aug 22, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Slaton returns kicks, plays with second team </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Steve Slaton - RB - HOU - Aug. 21 - 11:14 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Steve Slaton rushed five times for 19 yards and added one reception for -4 yards against the Saints in Saturday's preseason game.
If you weren't yet convinced that Arian Foster is entrenched as the lead back, Slaton was used on two kickoff returns before his first carry. He didn't see the ball on offense until the third quarter, once Dan Orlovsky and the second-team offense entered the game. Arian Foster stayed in the game for the entire first half, staying in the game for the next series after he fumbled.
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HacheMan · Aug 30, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Beat writer John McClain confirms that Arian Foster will be the Texans' goal-line back, and thinks he'll score 10 to 15 touchdowns if he stays healthy.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>McClain isn't doing anything to halt Foster's soaring Average Draft Position. He notes that Foster is playing with a chip on his shoulder after going undrafted last year and runs well inside the 5-yard line. The Texans also figure to be in the red zone a ton with a high-powered offense. Foster should be coming off draft boards in the fourth round at the latest right now.
Aug. 30 - 12:25 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: Houston Chronicle</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Sep 16, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who held the same position in Houston last year, believes the Texans have their "running back for the future" in Arian Foster.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>"[Kyle] just had a really good feeling about him," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "He said, 'Hey, they've got a great running back for the future,' and he thought he was going to have a great year ... Backs don't have [200-yard games] very often, but you can see he's quite a talent." Barring injury, this backfield will belong to Foster well beyond the 2010 season.
Sep. 16 - 4:06 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: CSN Washington</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Sep 17, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>If Arian Foster gains 102 yards on the ground this week at Washington, he will break Jonathan Stewart's record for most rushing yards in a player's first three starts going back to the 1970 merger.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Not bad for a player earning less than $400,000 this year. In his early career, Foster is averaging 5.6 yards per on 87 carries and 11.1 yards per on nine receptions. Rotoworld has him ranked as a top 10 fantasy option this week against a Redskins defense that allowed 4.7 yards per carry to the Cowboys in the opener.
Sep. 17 - 12:11 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: ESPN.com</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Oct 4, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Texans coach Gary Kubiak says he was "very proud" of the way Arian Foster responded to his Week 4 first-quarter benching.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>"We all have responsibilities, and he neglected some of his," Kubiak said. "When that happens, you have to pay a price. I’m disappointed in him, but I’m also very proud of him for the way he played." Foster leads the NFL in rushing, and his 537 yards are 126 more than second-place Rashard Mendenhall. Foster's 6.3 YPC average leads the league among backs with 35+ carries.
Oct. 4 - 3:51 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: houstontexans.com</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Oct 4, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Texans coach Gary Kubiak says he was "very proud" of the way Arian Foster responded to his Week 4 first-quarter benching.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>"We all have responsibilities, and he neglected some of his," Kubiak said. "When that happens, you have to pay a price. I’m disappointed in him, but I’m also very proud of him for the way he played." Foster leads the NFL in rushing, and his 537 yards are 126 more than second-place Rashard Mendenhall. Foster's 6.3 YPC average leads the league among backs with 35+ carries.
Oct. 4 - 3:51 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: houstontexans.com</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Oct 11, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Kubiak: Prognosis for Arian Foster is 'good' </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Arian Foster - RB - HOU - Oct. 11 - 4:52 p.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Coach Gary Kubiak revealed that Arian Foster (knee) was able to run with the team Monday, and called his prognosis "good" for Week 6.
Foster said Sunday night that he felt "fine," and he did play on the Texans' final possession. He should be good to go against the Chiefs in Week 6. Despite Sunday's 25-yard clunker, Foster still leads the league with 562 rushing yards. Chris Johnson (485) is second. Ahmad Bradshaw (449) is third.
Source: Nick Scurfield on Twitter
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HacheMan · Oct 13, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Arian Foster (knee) practiced without limitations Friday.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Foster's "banged" knee from Week 5 isn't a concern. With Houston's passing attack continuing to struggle, he should be ready for a big workload against the Chiefs. Foster remains the NFL rushing leader by a 77-yard margin.
Oct. 13 - 5:09 p.m. ET</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Oct 15, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Arian Foster (knee, probable) practiced in full all week.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>He didn't miss a single practice rep and will start against the Chiefs.
Oct. 15 - 4:25 p.m. ET</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Dec 20, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Arian Foster said a muscle spasm in his glute -- not an ankle injury -- caused him to miss time in Sunday's loss to the Titans.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Foster missed the final 10 minutes of the game. Coach Gary Kubiak said it was because of an ankle sprain that limited the breakout running back in practice last week. Either way, this will be one of the biggest storylines of fantasy's Super Bowl week. We'd expect an update from Kubiak on what truly ails Foster later today.
Dec. 20 - 10:30 a.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: Houston Chronicle</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

HacheMan · Dec 22, 2010

Arian Foster - RB - Texans </TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyCopy>Updating a previous item, Arian Foster (ankle, glute) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.</TD></TR><TR><TD>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>His "injuries" are no longer of concern, barring unforeseen late-week setbacks. Foster will be our No. 1 ranked fantasy back for Week 16 at Denver.
Dec. 22 - 6:01 p.m. ET</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=vaLink>Source: Nick Scurfield on Twitter</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>