Who Should I Start? Brashard Smith or Demond Claiborne
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 0.0 |
Brashard Smith News
Wednesday, August 5, 11:38 AM
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith has a real path to the 53-man roster, but that does not mean he belongs on fantasy rosters. The former seventh-round pick appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, finishing with 44 carries for 151 yards and 25 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown. He flashed in Week 18 with 56 yards on 12 carries, but Kansas City spent the offseason rebuilding the room around him. Kenneth Walker III sits atop the backfield, Emari Demercado adds proven big-play ability, and fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson brings the same receiving versatility that should have been Smith's best route to touches. The Chiefs' unofficial depth chart lists Smith third at running back and first at both return spots. That special-teams role matters for his job security, not his weekly fantasy ceiling. RotoBaller has him at RB79 in PPR and half-PPR formats. Smith is still only 23, so managers in very deep dynasty leagues can wait through the preseason. In ordinary redraft leagues, and in shallower dynasty formats, there is no reason to use a roster spot unless he climbs the backfield order.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 7.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 0.0 |
Demond Claiborne News
Sunday, August 9, 6:13 AM
Minnesota Vikings sixth-round rookie running back Demond Claiborne missed some time early in camp with an undisclosed ailment that left him working on a side field, but he had the play of the day on Saturday, outrunning the defense for a 60-yard score after making a move at the point of attack. The touchdown came with mostly backups on the field, but Claiborne has stood out in recent days through his heavy involvement as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield, occasionally even mixing in with the first-team offense. He has also shown juice in the return game, and he's a player who could impress in the team's first preseason game on August 15. Still firmly behind Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr. on the depth chart, Claiborne offers little standalone value for 2026, but showcasing multiple paths to fantasy relevance, he could find his way into waiver conversations by season's end while remaining a worthwhile dynasty stash.
Brashard Smith vs. Demond Claiborne
Still trying to decide between Smith and Claiborne? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Brashard Smith is projected to score 2.4 points this week while Demond Claiborne is projected to score 1.5 points.
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