Who Should I Start? Chase Brown or Troy Franklin

Saturday, October 11, 11:34 AM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown hasn't played well this season. After scoring a touchdown in the Bengals' Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns, the 25-year-old hasn't visited the end zone since then. He only had eight carries for 27 yards in Week 5 versus the Lions. Fortunately, Brown made up for it by catching seven of his eight targets for 21 yards. Cincinnati won the first two games of the 2025 campaign. Unfortunately, the Bengals have lost their last three contests, so the team is desperately looking for a win in Week 6 against Green Bay. Joe Flacco, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Browns, will get the start under center for that one. However, Flacco's knowledge of the playbook will presumably be limited, meaning Brown may see more touches than normal while potentially getting an uptick in short passes out of the backfield. With that said, the Packers defense has been a challenge for opposing offenses throughout the year, which isn't good news for Brown, Flacco, Ja'Marr Chase (illness), and Tee Higgins. Still, the 2023 No. 163 overall pick remains worthy of a start in all fantasy formats based on his upside alone, especially for managers with limited options at the running back position.

Monday, October 6, 6:39 PM

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin falls to the third option for Broncos quarterback Bo Nix while facing the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5. He caught three of five targets for 35 yards in Sunday's 21-17 win over the Eagles. Courtland Sutton and Evan Engram were first and second on the team with 10 and six targets. While Franklin has seemed to be on the field the second most out of any of the receiving group, the 22-year-old has been underwhelming for fantasy lineups since his explosive outing in Week 2. With Broncos head coach Sean Payton preferring taller wide receivers, this could be one of the primary reasons Franklin has been on the field more than anyone else. Still, he will need to capitalize on his opportunities more frequently before he can be trusted in fantasy lineups. Franklin is a boom or bust FLEX option in a plus matchup against the New York Jets in Week 6.