GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Two of the NFL's hardest-charging running backs will share Lambeau Field on Monday night.

And that doesn't even include Eddie Lacy.

No two running backs gained more yards after contact in Week 2 than James Starks and Jamaal Charles.

Filling in for Lacy, the Green Bay Packers starting running back who left Sunday night's win over the Seahawks because of a sprained right ankle on his third carry, Starks rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries. And he earned much those yards the hard way, picking up 61 after contact, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

No back in Week 2 had more yards after contact than Starks, which no doubt is giving fantasy owners something to think about with Lacy's status uncertain.

The Kansas City Chiefs' Charles was second, with 55 of his 125 against the Broncos coming after contact.

Charles' numbers should not have come as a surprise. The two-time All-Pro averaged 3.3 yards after contact per rush last season, the third-best mark among all backs in 2014.

But Starks?

His performance, marred only by a second-quarter fumble, served as a reminder that the Packers possess one of the best running back duos in the league, even if they don't rely on it all that often.

"James Starks is a helluva running back," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "Let's go back to his rookie year [2010]. I mean, he was on PUP pretty much almost [all season]. I think it was the last four weeks of the season we brought him up, and he was a big part of our run to the Super Bowl. So he just is a guy that takes advantage of his opportunities. He's the ultimate teammate. He always puts the team first.

"But we could play 50-50 with Eddie and James if we had to. I have a lot of respect for James Starks."

The Packers are hopeful Lacy's ankle allows him to practice Thursday, when on-field preparation begins for Monday night's game.

But if Lacy has to miss just the second game in his three-year career on Monday against Kansas City, the Packers believe Starks can function just fine against the Chiefs, who have the eighth-best run defense (79.5 rushing yards allowed per game) through two weeks.

"Each and every guy, no doubt about it, enjoyed getting more opportunities, more carries, more receptions, but the start of that is to make the most of the ones that you have, and then maybe those opportunities will come," Packers offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett said. "I think he did a fantastic job."

Starks' upright running style wouldn't necessary lend itself to breaking tackles like Lacy, who barrels over defenders, but he can gain extra yards with his quick-cut ability. On his 35-yard gain against the Seahawks in the third quarter, Starks broke an ankle tackle early in the play and then stiff-armed cornerback Cary Williams at the end of the run.

According to ProFootballFocus.com, Starks forced five missed tackles by the Seahawks.

"I just had to find the crease, and the line gave me a big crease to hit," said Starks, whose average of 2.86 yards after contact is second best among NFL running backs this season (behind only New Orleans' Khiry Robinson at 3.31). "I hit it, and I tried to do as much as I could with it."