Tatum

Bell

The rookie running back still has two games to make an impact on the Denver coaching staff. Don’t give up on him yet, but Bell isn’t worth drafting if the first half of fantasy drafts right now.

He will be ready to back up Quentin Griffin on Sunday. We don’t expect Bell to get goal-line carries at this point.

“You take a look at a guy who has had a problem with his finger, and then he has been out for a week,” Shanahan said. Despite his upside, Bell has struggled to stay healthy this season. He’s expected to play Sunday despite injured rib cartilage.

Not bad for a rookie who missed most of training camp. Bell was unspectacular in his preseason debut this weekend, rushing nine times for 23 yards. But Denver is worried about Garrison Hearst’s knees and wants Bell to complement Quentin Griffin this season.

Bell is not expected to miss any practice time after the pins are removed. If he plays Sunday he will have a wrap on his finger.

We’ll have to see. The report also says Hearst is more likely to be used in goal-line situations. If true, Bell is that much further from short-term fantasy value.

Bell should still go in the mid-late rounds of fantasy drafts for the chance that he’ll start eventually this season.

“I’m more focused this week than I have been in the past. Because in the last few weeks I knew I wasn’t going to get that many carries or playing time. But this week is a little bit different.” So you weren’t trying that hard the last few weeks, Tatum? Maybe that’s why Bell is stuck behind Reuben Drooughns in the line for carries this week. Bell should get work if Griffin can’t play, but he doesn’t look like a fantasy option yet.

Watch practice reports closely. Bell continues to get little work this season despite minor injuries. He’s not on the injury list this week and Quentin Griffin is questionable, so he could earn more work this week.

He’ll be questionable this week. Garrison Hearst is backing up Reuben Drougns while Bell recovers.