FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 4/24/2013 6:18pm et

The Green Bay Packers are not re-signing RB Cedric Benson Wednesday, April 24. The team wanted to get an update on a foot issue he is dealing with.

Huddle Up: Don't rule out the Packers revisiting Benson at some point in the offseason, but they're more likely use the draft to find a running back or stick with DuJuan Harris as their primary ball-carrier.

Posted: 4/23/2013 10:01pm et

The Green Bay Packers are scheduled to meet with free agent RB Cedric Benson (foot) Wednesday, April 23. Benson is almost completely healed from a Lisfranc injury.

Huddle Up: Benson, who had 345 yards from scrimmage and 1 TD in 5 games with the Packers last season, would be joining the same cast of characters (James Starks, Alex Green, DuJuan Harris) if he returns to Green Bay. There also is speculation that the Pack may target a RB fairly high in this week's draft.

Posted: 4/18/2013 5:16pm et

Free-agent RB Cedric Benson (foot) is getting closer to 100 percent, and he is on teams' radars.

Huddle Up: After 3 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Cincy, Benson gained only 248 yards in 5 games with the Pack before bowing out with his foot injury. That and the fact he will turn 31 in December will limit the RB's options.

Posted: 2/18/2013 6:44pm et

The Green Bay Packers may be willing to re-sign impending free-agent RB Cedric Benson this offseason but likely would give him only a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum.

Huddle Up: Benson isn't the solution in Green Bay, but he wasn't bad as part of a committee and would be a low-cost alternative if the Packers don't address their backfield deficiencies in the draft or with other higher-profile free agents. How's that for a glowing endorsement?

Posted: 1/20/2013 3:08am et

Green Bay Packers impending free-agent Cedric Benson is still wearing a walking foot on his surgically repaired foot but believes he will be ready for the start of training camp. Benson indicated that he would like to re-sign with the Packers this offseason.

Huddle Up: Backs should be lining up to play for Green Bay, as it's quite enjoyable to run against defenses focused on the pass. The Packers have some options at running back, at least in the free agent market; bringing Benson back would be "settling", so don't be surprised if they come up with a better option.

Posted: 1/15/2013 10:31pm et

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said he would love to see RB Cedric Benson return next season.

Huddle Up: Benson only played in 5 games before being sidelined with a foot injury, and he finished with a pedestrian 248 rushing yards on 71 carries. He could be back in Green Bay next season, but with plenty of competition as the Packers must find a No. 1 RB they can rely on.

Posted: 11/29/2012 3:19pm et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson (foot) will stay on Injured Reserve for the rest of the season. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Benson underwent surgery on his foot Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Huddle Up: As unexciting as it is in fantasy circles, it'll be the James Starks and Alex Green Ground Show for the remainder of the regular season in Green Bay.

Posted: 11/27/2012 11:49pm et

Updating a previous report, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday, Nov. 27, that RB Cedric Benson (foot) will not practice this week, and he said he expects to have more information Wednesday, Nov. 28. Benson is set to meet with a specialist this week concerning his Lisfranc injury. He is on the Injured Reserve/Designated to Return list, and if he needs surgery he is most likely done for the year.

Huddle Up: It's not looking good for a Benson return at this point, meaning the James Starks/Alex Green platoon will continue in Green Bay.

Posted: 11/21/2012 11:51pm et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson (foot)still is considering surgery for his Lisfranc foot injury. He is is eligible to return from the Injured Reserve/Designated to Return list Dec. 9

Huddle Up: The prevailing thought has been that Benson would be back on the field in mid-December, but there remains a distinct possibility that the James Starks/Alex Green platoon will be in place for the rest of the season.

Posted: 11/17/2012 7:21pm et

Updating a previous item, Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson (foot) said he is still not ready to resume practicing; however, he is hopeful of returning for the team's game Dec. 16 against the Chicago Bears. 'I'm kind of looking and thinking the Bears game,' Benson said. 'I think we're still a little bit out from practicing, from putting on a cleat and pounding on it like that. I think we're still a couple of weeks away from that, but very close, very close. Kind of the way the doctor puts it to me all the time is regardless of anything, whether you could play tomorrow, you've still got three weeks where you can't play.'

Huddle Up: Just a name to keep in mind as Week 15 is the heart of the fantasy playoffs. In the meantime, James Starks and Alex Green are shouldering the team's RB load.

Posted: 10/10/2012 10:53pm et

The Green Bay Packers have placed RB Cedric Benson (foot) on the Injured Reserve/Designated to Return list. Benson may be able to return for the last four games of the season.

Huddle Up: Chances are Benson is done for the season, but the Packers and some fantasy owners in deep leagues will leave the door open for now.

Posted: 10/8/2012 10:35pm et

According to an ESPN halftime report during Monday Night Football, Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson suffered a Lisfranc foot injury during Sunday's Week 5 game at Indianapolis, and could miss 8 weeks and possibly the rest of the season. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said earlier Monday that Benson will definitely be sidelined for this coming week's game against the Houston Texans. Benson was in a walking boot Monday.

Huddle Up: The hottest waiver-wire pickup this week will be Alex Green, who carried 9 times for 55 yards, highlighted by a 40-yard burst, Sunday in relief of Benson, Also, don't forget about James Starks, the team's leading rusher last season, who is close to full health after missing the first five games with a turf-toe injury.

Posted: 10/8/2012 11:40am et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson said following Week 5 that he does not believe he suffered a Lisfranc injury, only a mild sprain. "I mean, it could be a possibility, but in my opinion it's just a sprain," Benson said. "I was able to walk off and they say guys who have that type of things aren't able to walk off. They X-rayed it and it feels good." Benson was wearing a walking boot on his left foot after the Week 5 loss against the Indianapolis Colts, but said he felt comfortable, and that it wasn't a serious injury. X-rays did not show any damage, but he will have more tests Monday, Oct. 8.

Huddle Up: No word on if the Packers stayed at a Holiday Inn Express while in Indianapolis, so take Dr. Benson's diagnosis with a grain of salt. Alex Green looked good in place of Benson and will be a hot free agent acquisition this week, pending further word on Benson's injury and availability going forward.

Posted: 10/7/2012 3:52pm et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson left late in the first quarter of Sunday's Week 5 game in Indianapolis because of a foot injury. He was carted off and did not return.

Huddle Up: Benson appeared to have his left ankle rolled up on as he was dragged down from behind. He had been the Packers' workhorse this season, but was replaced in the backfield by Alex Green. Benson finished with 7 rushes for 20 yards and 2 catches for 21 yards.

Posted: 10/2/2012 3:52pm et

Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements said the goal is to get RB Cedric Benson more carries, because he gets better with more work. "He's a workhorse and when he touches the ball, the more he touches it, the better he gets," Clements said Monday.

Huddle Up: Benson has logged 64 of the Pack's 70 RB rushing attempts and has been solid with 228 rushing yards, one TD and 12 catches for 76 yards. Unquestioned workhorses like this are a disappearing NFL breed, and that makes Benson a fantasy starter in and of itself.

Posted: 9/25/2012 1:01am et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson carried 17 times for 45 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks Monday, Sept. 24. Benson also hauled in four receptions for 19 yards.

Huddle Up: After a scoreless first half, the Packers and Benson got the running game going in the second half to counter the Seahawks' swarming pass rush. His rushing TD came from a yard out after a replay review negated an Aaron Rodgers-to-Greg Jennings TD pass in the fourth quarter. In all, Benson accounted for 17 of Green Bay's rushes and will continue to carry the mail in the Green Bay.

Posted: 9/14/2012 12:53pm et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson rebounded in Week 2, rushing 20 times for a game-high 81 yards against the Chicago Bears. He also caught four passes for 35 yards during the game.

Huddle Up: Benson looked much better than he did in Week 1 thanks to some better offensive line play. The four catches are a bit of a shocker for Benson, who has never been known as a pass-catching back. This could mean a boost for Benson in PPR leagues going forward. Considering he is due for a touchdown or two, he could be in for some big weeks in the near future.

Posted: 8/28/2012 11:41pm et

Green Bay Packers RBs Cedric Benson and Alex Green are expected to see a bulk of the carries early in the regular season if RB James Starks (turf toe) is not ready to go. Starks has progressed slower than the team hoped. RB Brandon Saine (hamstring) is also in the mix for touches if Starks isn't ready.

Huddle Up: With Starks' status for Week 1 looking real iffy at this point, expect Benson to get the lion's share of the work out of the remaining 3 backs. Green indicated as much Tuesday, conceeding that Benson is in line to start Week 1.

Posted: 8/24/2012 11:13am et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson made his debut with the squad Thursday, Aug. 23, against his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals. Benson ran six times for 38 yards. "He's getting his feet wet. He made some runs out of nothing and did a nice job on some check-downs. It was good for him. We're excited to have him," said QB Aaron Rodgers.

Huddle Up: Benson has replaced James Starks in the Green Bay backfield and he looked capable of hanging on to that duty. The Packers offense is still primarily a passing production, which doesn't mesh with Benson's skill set; he's never had more than 28 catches in a season and has just one career receiving touchdown. Temper your fantasy expectations for Benson accordingly, as he's still likely to lose goal line touches to John Kuhn and the Packers would still like to develop speedy Alex Green as at least a third-down back.

Posted: 8/23/2012 12:04pm et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson is expected to see some action in the team's preseason game Thursday, Aug. 23. Head coach Mike McCarthy said he has been impressed with Benson's work ethic and commitment since joining the team. "He's been motivated," McCarthy said. "He's taken my seat in the meeting room. He sits next to Aaron. I've been bumped back a row. I think that's a good thing. He's really into trying to learn this offense because I know I've said it a couple times already, he's trying to learn a different language. He's an accomplished football player. I'm glad he's here. He seems very motivated. And I know he's looking forward to playing Thursday."

Huddle Up: This situation is reminiscent of when Corey Dillon left the Bengals for a shot at a ring with the Patriots. Benson seems to be fitting right in with the Packers, but bottom line he's a quantity back and the Green Bay offense isn't set up to give him 20-25 carries a game. Football-wise he can be effective, but it's tough to see him being a fantasy factor in green and gold.

Posted: 8/14/2012 1:11pm et

Green Bay Packers RB Cedric Benson said he received offers from the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions before choosing the Packers. Benson could become the team's primary rusher with RB James Starks (toe) dealing with turf toe early on.

Huddle Up: There definitely are several clubs who could've used the services of a 29-year-old RB coming off 3 straight 1,000-yard seasons, but Benson landed in a great spot. Starks, who rushed for 578 yards and scored only 1 TD while sharing carries with Ryan Grant last season, isn't an immovable fixture in the starting lineup by any means, and Benson could very well emerge as the top fantasy option at RB (although still sharing carries) on one of the league's most explosive offenses. Move him up your draft board accordingly.

Posted: 8/12/2012 7:16pm et

The Green Bay Packers have signed free-agent RB Cedric Benson (Bengals) to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Huddle Up: Benson is back on the fantasy radar after joining the high-powered Packers. While there's no indiciation that Green Bay views Benson as anything but relief for starter James Starks, this all the appearances of another frustrating timeshare with FB John Kuhn (team-high 4 rushing TDs in 2011) also figuring into the mix. Benson is coming off three straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Bengals, each accompanied by at least 6 rushing TDs, easily making him the Packers' most experienced back. Still, this isn't Cincy, where he was the undisputed lead dog, and the 2012 expectations for Benson should be tempered accordingly.

Posted: 6/19/2012 8:49pm et

The Oakland Raiders are eyeing free-agent RB Cedric Benson (Bengals). The Raiders currently have RBs Mike Goodson and Taiwan Jones as backups to RB Darren McFadden. The Raiders have shown the most interest in Benson in free agency.

Huddle Up: At this point it can't hurt to kick the tires on Benson. He'd offer more experience and tougher inside-running than current backups Goodson and Jones.