Who Should I Start? Chase Brown or Omarion Hampton

Wednesday, May 28, 12:06 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) was photographed participating in Tuesday's OTAs. Brown had injured his ankle during Week 17 against the Denver Broncos last season, and it was enough to sideline him for the team's regular season finale in Week 18. Now, though, nearly five months later, it appears Brown is healthy. That's good news for Bengals fans and fantasy managers alike, as Brown finished his 2024 campaign with 1,350 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the overall RB10 in PPR leagues despite opening the year as the No. 2 running back and missing Week 18. Productive as a ball carrier and pass catcher, Brown should be a full-go for Week 1, allowing him to rank as a mid-to-low RB1 in fantasy football.

Monday, May 19, 3:26 PM

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports that first-round rookie running back Omarion Hampton has agreed to a four-year, $17.77 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. The contract includes a $9.56 million signing bonus. Hampton and backfield mate Najee Harris are set to split time in Jim Harbaugh's offense, which caps the former Tar Heel's immediate upside. Still, his long-term outlook is looking quite rosy. Like Harris, the 22-year-old is a powerful, bruising back with a three-down skill set, though he possesses much more explosiveness than the veteran. Even if Hampton starts the season off behind his teammate in carries, it wouldn't be surprising to see him even out the workload over the course of the season -- if not outright taking the job if he adjusts quickly enough.