Who Should I Start? Chris Collier or Brashard Smith

Friday, August 8, 11:25 AM

Second-year running back Chris Collier took the spotlight in the Las Vegas Raiders' 23-23 tie with the Seahawks, handling the bulk of the second-half carries. Collier played a key role in the team's most productive drives, including a 16-yard run that helped set up Cam Miller's touchdown pass. While the 25-year-old remains a longshot to make the roster behind Ashton Jeanty, Raheem Mostert, and Zamir White, he's making the most of his preseason opportunities.

Monday, February 16, 5:28 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith could have the opportunity to take on an expanded role during the 2026 season. Smith was buried in a depth role for most of his rookie season in 2025, especially with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt leading the backfield. However, the Chiefs' running back dynamic could change in 2026. Both Pacheco and Hunt are free agents this offseason, and it's unclear whether either of them will re-sign. If only one or neither of them returns next season, Smith will have a path to a larger workload. He had a modest 323 scrimmage yards and one touchdown this past year, so he certainly hasn't proven himself ready for a lead-back role. However, he could share the backfield with someone like Pacheco or another mid-range, experienced back. Either way, Smith is absolutely trending upward ahead of the 2026 season. He's an intriguing buy in dynasty leagues, especially if his current fantasy manager has already grown impatient.