Who Should I Start? Andrew Beck or Jonathon Brooks

Friday, February 7, 5:47 PM

The New York Jets signed former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos fullback/tight end Andrew Beck to an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, according to a league source. Beck has never been a fantasy asset, and that won't change in 2025 in his first year with the Jets as he looks to open up holes for running back Breece Hall. The 28-year-old appeared in four games with the Green Bay Packers and Texans during the 2024 campaign and didn't see a single rushing attempt while failing to haul in either of his two targets through the air. Beck has only eight carries for six yards and a touchdown in his six years in the NFL and has caught 25 of 38 targets for 214 yards and three touchdowns as a pass-catcher. He was originally an undrafted free agent out of the University of Texas and spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos.

Sunday, February 15, 4:39 AM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) has been dealt some very unfortunate injury luck since entering the NFL. Brooks tore his ACL in November 2023 while still at Texas, causing him to fall to the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The injury cost him the first few weeks of his NFL career, but he debuted in Week 12 of the 2024 season with a very small workload. He ultimately played just three games that season before suffering another ACL tear, and he has been sidelined ever since. Brooks' recovery timetable suggests that he should be healthy for the 2026 season. It's fair for fantasy managers to have their doubts about Brooks, given that he has just 12 touches through two years, but we can't forget how productive he was at Texas. Additionally, he should benefit from a clear path to productivity in Carolina. Rico Dowdle is expected to depart in free agency and Trevor Etienne had an underwhelming season, resulting in a wide-open competition for the No. 2 running back role behind Chuba Hubbard. If healthy, Brooks could be the favorite for that role. He'd presumably be eased back into action, but he has top-40 running back appeal if he's healthy for Week 1.