Eddie Lacy missing in action, more than just an injury?

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy is a notoriously slow starter, not to mention a perennial late-bloomer in fantasy football, but there is legitimate cause for concern after the Packers star took a backseat to James Starks on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Rushing just four times for three yards, Eddie Lacy was the odd man out.

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“We’re a one-two punch team,” coach Mike McCarthy told Michael Cohen of the Journal-Sentinel. “It’s really no different than the way we operate. We went with James first just because he’s been playing extremely well, and Eddie has been a little banged up.” The usage strategy between the two backs, however, suggests that Lacy’s injury is not the only factor.

Starks was the primary back on Green Bay’s opening drive, one which he capped off with a receiving touchdown. He would later add another score on a brilliant 65-yard run, and closed the game with a higher season-long rushing total and yards-per-cary than Lacy in 2015.

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Now averaging 43.3 yards per game, Lacy is on pace for a 693-yard season. The smart money is on him exceeding that without absolutely any issue, of course, but this is no longer just an issue of Lacy needing an extended time to ramp up into the heart of the season. In his limited action, he didn’t look right, and if he continues to struggle on early carries, Mike McCarthy may not be able to get Lacy the bulked carries that he needs to make an impact in the fourth quarter. That may be the biggest issue of all, as Lacy is a volume runner.

I feel much of this can be attributed to an offensive unit that, despite their 6-0 record, has some clear room for improvement. Between the injury to Jordy Nelson and the pass-rush facing Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay has struggled mightily to establish a consistent downfield passing game. Safeties haven’t exactly stacked the box, but they’re not being drawn deep like they were in Lacy’s first two seasons.

This story isn’t all about Lacy, though. James Starks has earned this playing time, perhaps even stolen it away, and continues to be one of the more underrated backs in football. He’s now averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and with his long, driving legs, consistently turns three yard runs into four or five.

The bye week couldn’t be coming at a better time for Green Bay. Not only does Lacy need time to rest up his right ankle, but James Jones, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery are all banged up on the outside. Lacy will face a stiff test out of the bye against the Denver Broncos defense, but the backfield timeshare will be telling. Even assuming that Lacy does earn the start, it’s no longer “his” backfield alone.

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