Who Should I Start? Ameer Abdullah or Jarquez Hunter

Monday, August 11, 8:41 PM

The San Francisco 49ers have placed running back Ameer Abdullah (ribs) on season-ending injured reserve, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Abdullah, who just joined the 49ers as a free agent on July 31, suffered a rib injury in a preseason-opening 30-9 loss to the Denver Broncos this past Saturday. While the 32-year-old was unlikely to make much of an impact this season (if any), it's another hit to San Francisco's depth in the backfield. The team is already set to go multiple weeks without injured Christian McCaffrey backups Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and Jordan James (finger). The 49ers brought back Jeff Wilson Jr. in free agency on Sunday in the wake of Abdullah's injury to provide some much-needed healthy depth behind McCaffrey.

Saturday, August 30, 12:59 PM

Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Jarquez Hunter is likely to open the season behind both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in the team's backfield pecking order. Given how heavily Los Angeles has utilized Williams over the past two seasons, Hunter's RB3 status could mean that he is unlikely to see the field much as a rookie. A fourth-round pick out of Auburn, Hunter led the SEC by averaging 6.4 yards per rush attempt in his final collegiate season. The 22-year-old brings an explosive speed element to the Rams' backfield that Williams and Corum do not. However, Williams and Corum are dependable three-down backs who can make plays inside the tackles, which is a skill set that Rams head coach Sean McVay has typically favored. An injury could change things, but for now, Hunter should be off the radar of fantasy managers in 2025.