Who Should I Start? Chase Brown or Brian Thomas Jr.

Saturday, September 13, 12:17 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown had only 43 yards off 21 carries in the Week 1 win over Cleveland. His 2.0 yards per carry was a tough pill to swallow for fantasy managers. Still, he at least found the end zone, so the afternoon wasn't a total flop. The same can't be said for the rest of the Bengals offense, with Joe Burrow throwing for 113 yards and one touchdown. To make matters worse, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combined for five receptions. Despite the subpar offensive showing, Cincinnati managed to pull off a narrow one-point victory. With a win in the books, Brown and company will host the Jaguars in Week 2. Without question, the Bengals have struggled to begin the season in the last few years. However, Brown and company have a great chance of turning things around. Although he sometimes struggles picking up yards on the ground, his versatility as a pass-catching back makes a difference. Sunday's game is expected to be one of the highest-scoring contests on the schedule, so both offenses may be clicking on all cylinders. All things considered, Brown should be more productive in Week 2, especially if Burrow can get the offense into the Red Zone more than he did against Cleveland. Keep Brown rolling in all fantasy lineups.

Monday, September 15, 2:12 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars second-year wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (wrist) has not had the start that fantasy managers were hoping for after spending a late first or early second on him in drafts. His disappointing performance against the Bengals on Sunday saw him reel in four catches for 49 yards while making a bad drop near the goal line late in the game. According to head coach Liam Coen, Thomas Jr. was dealing with a wrist injury heading into the game. Having gone through a week of practice without appearing on the injury report, it's difficult to say when the injury was sustained or how much of a cause it has played in the lackluster start to his season. The Jaguars face the Texans in week 3, and it will be worth monitoring Thomas Jr.'s injury status throughout the week, but managers should continue to start him with better days presumably ahead.