Who Should I Start? Brian Robinson Jr. or Trey Benson

Thursday, September 5, 6:37 PM

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. should be started in all leagues as an RB2 in Week 1 as he faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Robinson is expected to be the slight leader in a committee with veteran Austin Ekeler. During the preseason, the Alabama product consistently saw the first carries of the game but was often replaced by Ekeler during third-down situations. Last season, the 25-year-old ran for 733 yards, punched in five scores, and tallied 368 yards and four scores through the air. Fantasy managers should expect Robinson to be a solid RB2 on Sunday with the upside to get goal-line work. However, expectations should be tempered slightly as the Buccaneers allowed the fifth-lowest 95.3 rushing yards per game last season.

Saturday, September 7, 5:46 AM

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson finished the preseason with 17 carries for 64 rushing yards. The third-round pick out of Florida State was once believed to be a threat to James Conner's playing time but it appears the rookie will have to wait a while before he makes his mark on the league. In recent comments to the press, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing reaffirmed the team's commitment to using Conner as their primary running back, referring to him as the "bell cow in that room." While Benson's performance during training camp and the preseason solidified his role as Conner's direct backup, not much should be expected of the rookie out of the gate. Given Conner's injury history, Benson is certainly a worthwhile bench stash but the bench is exactly where he should be on fantasy rosters in Week 1.