Who Should I Start? David Njoku or Rhamondre Stevenson

Wednesday, October 22, 11:11 AM

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) will return to practice on Wednesday from the knee injury that sidelined him for the team's Week 7 win over the Miami Dolphins, per The Athletic's Zac Jackson. Additionally, Jackson reports that Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he is "hopeful" that Njoku will play in Week 8 against the New England Patriots. The 29-year-old recorded 23 catches for 223 yards and a touchdown on 36 targets across six games before getting injured. If Njoku returns, he would likely eat into the workload for Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who earned a team-high five targets in Njoku's absence in Week 7. As long as Njoku and Fannin Jr. are splitting snaps in Cleveland, both players are hard for fantasy managers to trust for anything beyond low-end starter production.

Wednesday, October 22, 10:11 AM

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has solidified himself as the clear workhorse in the backfield. Through seven games, Stevenson has totaled 69 carries for 245 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 15 receptions for 154 yards through the air. He showcased his trademark power running style in Week 7, rumbling for 88 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against the Tennessee Titans. Many expected rookie TreVeyon Henderson to see an expanded role following Antonio Gibson's season-ending knee injury, but that hasn't materialized. Over the last two games, Stevenson has dominated the workload, playing 77% of the snaps, compared to Henderson's 15%. While Stevenson remains the lead back, fantasy managers should still proceed with caution, as any given week could feature a change in the backfield rotation, especially with the team's second-round investment in Henderson. For Week 8, Stevenson projects as a high-end RB3 against the Cleveland Browns, who boast one of the toughest run defenses in the league.