Who Should I Start? Cordarrelle Patterson or Ameer Abdullah

Tuesday, March 26, 4:19 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing running back/wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Patterson enjoyed the best season of his career under current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Atlanta, so the move gives the veteran a smidge of fantasy relevance in 2024. In 2021, Patterson rushed 153 times for 618 yards and six touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 548 yards and five scores. He finished that campaign as the RB9 in PPR leagues. However, he posted just 219 yards of offense last season and turned 33 years old on March 17. In all likelihood, he will primarily be used on special teams and as a gadget player in the new-look Pittsburgh offense. Patterson holds the NFL record for kick return touchdowns (nine), and this move was made on the same day the league approved a revised kickoff.

Friday, March 8, 9:17 PM

The Raiders re-signed running back Ameer Abdullah, the team announced on Friday. The 2015 No. 54 overall pick has played in 125 regular season games, amassing 1,683 yards and six touchdowns off 428 carries. He's also made eight more trips to the end zone as a pass-catcher. While the Raiders backfield situation remains a work in progress heading toward the 2024-25 campaign, there could be an opportunity for Abdullah to get more involved. However, that's not likely, as he's anticipated to remain buried on the depth chart, although he should get a few touches each game. That said, that won't make him relevant for fantasy managers.