Who Should I Start? Carlos Washington Jr. or Jonathon Brooks

Saturday, August 24, 12:25 AM

Atlanta Falcons running back Carlos Washington Jr. finished his preseason with an inefficient seven rushing yards on four attempts while pitching in one reception for seven yards in Friday night's 31-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Washington finished the preseason the way he began it, and it can't bode well for his spot on the depth chart with the beginning of the season right around the corner. Although he did find the endzone one time, Washington finished the preseason with an abysmal 2.4 YPC on 29 attempts. Jase McClellan outperformed him in every way during camp, and it wouldn't be surprising to see McClellan jump Washington as the RB3 on the depth chart to begin the season.

Tuesday, February 11, 10:19 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after his second ACL tear in 2024 as a rookie. In addition to Brooks, the Panthers are expected to cut running back Miles Sanders. It's why The Athletic's Joseph Person has the Panthers taking SMU RB Brashard Smith with a fifth-round selection in his 2025 mock draft. Smith could be a nice change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard next year in the Panthers' backfield. The 21-year-old Brooks can be avoided in all single-year fantasy drafts this fall after suffering a gruesome injury in his first year in the NFL. Brooks could have a lengthier recovery after already tearing the same ACL in his final collegiate season at the University of Texas. In three games in 2024, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards.