Who Should I Start? Braelon Allen or Brashard Smith

Friday, October 3, 11:54 AM

According to head coach Aaron Glenn, New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) could miss 8-12 weeks with the MCL sprain he suffered in Week 4's loss to the Miami Dolphins. Reports were that Allen would miss more than the minimum number of required games, but it now appears he'll be out until at least December, with surgery still an option. In the 21-year-old's absence, teammate Isaiah Davis will take over the Jets' RB2 duties behind starter Breece Hall, and the newly-acquired Khalil Herbert will handle the RB3 role with Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) still tending to injury. Fantasy managers can safely drop Allen in all redraft formats as the likelihood of him making an impact to close out the 2025 season remains low.

Saturday, October 4, 10:29 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. Smith saw his snap rate and touches reach season-highs in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens. The rookie running back handled four carries for nine yards (2.3 yards per carry) and three catches for 27 receiving yards. Smith converted to running back from wide receiver in college, making receiving a huge part of his game. The 22-year-old also ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, making him a speedy option to get the ball to in space. There has been a lot of buzz about getting Smith more involved in the offense each week, and that should be the case against the Jaguars, who allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs. If fellow backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt struggle to find success on the ground, Smith could make things happen through the air. Smith is ranked RB46 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, putting him in desperation flex territory. It would be advisable to take a wait-and-see approach with Smith this week.