Fantasy Fallout: Bears have no choice but to hand backfield to Jordan Howard

Here are the fantasy repercussions of the ankle injury suffered by Chicago Bears RB Jeremy Langford in Week 3:

Langford entered 2016 as an RB2, a role he maintained through the first two weeks of the season out of sheer volume. He was averaging an abysmal 3.7 yards per carry on the season, nearly identical to his 2015 average.

He had gained just 116 yards on his 31 attempts but managed a touchdown in each of his first two games, thanks to opportunity. He caught just five of nine targets, totaling 27 yards. Langford doesn't yet have a timetable for his return, but he's likely to miss multiple weeks. Chicago's bye isn't until Week 9, leaving him without the luxury of a free week to get healthy.

New kid on the block

After investing a fourth-round pick on Langford in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Bears went right back to the RB well in this year's draft, spending a fifth-round selection on Jordan Howard.

Howard sat out Week 1, but he received 12 carries and eight targets over the second and third weeks of the season. He is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, but the number is drastically boosted by a long rush of 36 yards. He has caught six of his eight targets for 56 yards, with a long of just 15.

RB Ka'Deem Carey was inactive in Week 3, and he had been largely uninvolved and ineffective in the first two weeks of the seasons. Howard has a clear path to a three-down workload.

Howard needs to be added in all fantasy formats. He is worthy of a top waiver claim and roughly 50 percent of remaining FAAB budgets. Owners of RBs Adrian Peterson or Danny Woodhead can invest even more.

Langford isn't yet worth dropping outright, but his inefficiency was already opening the door for Howard. If Howard performs in a multi-week audition, he could stick in the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.