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LeSean McCoy is good to go for Week 1 of the regular season (at least as of now)

ByJonathan Bass|
Aug 14, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) runs with the ball as Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kyle Love (61) pursues during the first quarter at a preseason NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) runs with the ball as Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kyle Love (61) pursues during the first quarter at a preseason NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

LeSean McCoy will play in Week 1 of the regular season.

Next: Ranking The 32 NFL Offenses For 2015

Buffalo Bills fans held their collective breath on Tuesday as the team’s key offseason acquisition, LeSean McCoy, limped to the locker room during practice. McCoy injured his left leg in what was later deemed a hamstring strain, and underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

Wednesday morning, NFL reporter Ian Rapoport tweeted out that following the MRI McCoy has been deemed healthy enough to start in the team’s regular season opener on Sunday, September 13 against the Indianapolis Colts.

McCoy’s injury was the latest of what has been a snake-bitten position group. Bills running backs Fred Jackson and Bryce Brown are also dealing with hamstring injuries, while Anthony Dixon could miss up to a month due to an hurt calf. Furthermore, rookie Karlos Williams will be sidelined for at least two weeks after undergoing a procedure to fix an undisclosed injury he suffered while lifting weights on Monday.

According to Mike Garafolo with FOX Sports, the Bills have begun internal discussions about whether to sign Ray Rice to help bolster their banged up running back corps.

What this means for the immediate future is that a team with no definitive starter at quarterback now has an even lighter backfield to lean on. Translation: it could be an ugly few preseason games for Rex Ryan’s team in the lead up to the regular season.

As for fantasy implications: LeSean McCoy has now become and even greater wildcard. After leaving Chip Kelly’s uptempo offense in Philly, there was a big question as to how his numbers would be affected. Now with a hamstring injury pushing his recovery time right up to the regular season, the question mark grows larger. He’s unquestionably one of the best backs in the league when healthy, not to mention a bonafide fantasy stud, but it’s never a good thing having your No. 1 pick heading into a long season already battling a nagging injury. Shady might have just crept up to “buyer beware” status.

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