Who Should I Start? Dameon Pierce or Kyle Monangai

Wednesday, August 13, 10:50 AM

In one of the more interesting backfield situations in the league, Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce is now seeing first-team reps, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston. The status of Joe Mixon (foot) is up in the air as the season approaches, while new addition Nick Chubb (head) has also missed time, to say nothing of the major knee injury he suffered in 2023. Pierce rushed for 939 yards as a rookie and has had fleeting moments of success since, but mostly in a secondary role. A committee situation may be worth monitoring as the season approaches.

Tuesday, August 12, 12:14 AM

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai is emerging as the workhorse that the Bears envisioned when they selected him in the seventh round of this year's draft. He had a strong debut in Sunday's preseason game against the Dolphins, rushing for 30 yards on six carries while working mostly in the first half. The Rutgers product showcased his tough, downhill running style, potentially mirroring the roles David Montgomery and Jamaal Williams filled as the hammer back in Ben Johnson's Lions offenses. Monangai logged 669 carries without a fumble at Rutgers, accumulating 3,221 rushing yards over four seasons, the second most in school history. Quarterback Caleb Williams and the coaching staff have consistently praised the rookie, and he is expected to be in the mix for touches alongside D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson in the Bears' backfield. He is a solid, cheap bet to make at the end of drafts in an ambiguous backfield.