Fantasy Fallout: Orleans Darkwa no longer just a one-week filler

Here's a look at the fantasy impact of the triceps injury suffered by New York Giants RB Shane Vereen:

Update:

Vereen was off to an excellent start, averaging 4.7 yards per carry on 31 attempts. Through just three games he was already over halfway to his 2015 rushing total. He had a rushing touchdown while catching eight of 13 targets for 75 yards. He shared the team lead in rushing attempts with Rashad Jennings, and he was QB Eli Manning's fourth-most targeted pass catcher.

Jennings sat out the Week 3 game against the Washington Redskins as he didn't think his thumb injury would allow him to be of use in the passing game. He has matched Vereen's 31 carries this season, but he has gained an ineffective 3.3 yards per attempt while adding three receptions for 16 yards.

Third-year RB Orleans Darkwa replaced most of Jennings' duties on the ground in Sunday's loss. He scored a touchdown while averaging 5.3 yards per carry on 10 attempts and adding one catch for nine yards. Darkwa has 10 receptions on 13 career targets and has gained 91 yards through the air in 30 games, but has never scored a receiving touchdown.

The likely solution

With Vereen having been such a big part of the Giants' passing attack, New York is now left with two backs who are similar to each other, not setting up as well in a platoon divide.

The Giants don't play until Monday night of Week 4, when they'll visit the Minnesota Vikings. It's not an appealing matchup for any running back, as the Vikings are allowing just the 24th-most standard fantasy points to opposing RBs. They have yet to give up a rushing touchdown through three games.

Jennings, who has 159 receptions and 1,284 receiving yards in his career, could theoretically shift to a larger pass-catching role within the Giants offense, opening up more rushing work for Darkwa. The shift in usage would keep Jennings' value relatively stable in standard leagues, while providing a boost in PPR formats. Darkwa would be a must-get in standard leagues.

Deep league long shots

The closest thing New York has to a direct replacement for Vereen is RB Bobby Rainey. Rainey has appeared in two games for the Giants, catching one of two targets for 24 yards. He has 52 receptions in 69 career targets, totaling 401 yards and two touchdowns. He has added 990 yards rushing and six scores.

Considered by many as the Giants' long-term answer at running back, rookie Paul Perkins has appeared in just one of the team's first three games, but he hasn't received a touch of any type. He played exclusively on special teams in Week 3. He received 237 rushing attempts compared to 30 receptions during his final year at UCLA in 2015.

Darkwa should be added in all 12-team leagues, while Rainey is worth consideration in deeper PPR formats. Perkins is little more than a keeper/dynasty consideration.