Who Should I Start? Devin Neal or Brashard Smith
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | 6.9 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
Devin Neal News
Saturday, August 8, 7:55 PM
LouisianaSports.net's Ross Jackson reported that New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal (hamstring) was not seen at practice today. Neal is still recovering from a hamstring injury that he sustained during practice on Thursday. The 23-year-old is hoping to return to the field in time to play in the Saints' preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Neal will need to have a strong preseason to earn an offensive role in the Saints' backfield. The team signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $52 million contract in free agency, and recently signed Alvin Kamara to a restructured one-year contract to keep him with the team. Neal will have to see an injury to one of the backs ahead of him on the depth chart to be fantasy relevant in 2026.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 0.0 |
Brashard Smith News
Wednesday, August 5, 11:38 AM
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith has a real path to the 53-man roster, but that does not mean he belongs on fantasy rosters. The former seventh-round pick appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, finishing with 44 carries for 151 yards and 25 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown. He flashed in Week 18 with 56 yards on 12 carries, but Kansas City spent the offseason rebuilding the room around him. Kenneth Walker III sits atop the backfield, Emari Demercado adds proven big-play ability, and fifth-round rookie Emmett Johnson brings the same receiving versatility that should have been Smith's best route to touches. The Chiefs' unofficial depth chart lists Smith third at running back and first at both return spots. That special-teams role matters for his job security, not his weekly fantasy ceiling. RotoBaller has him at RB79 in PPR and half-PPR formats. Smith is still only 23, so managers in very deep dynasty leagues can wait through the preseason. In ordinary redraft leagues, and in shallower dynasty formats, there is no reason to use a roster spot unless he climbs the backfield order.
Devin Neal vs. Brashard Smith
Still trying to decide between Neal and Smith? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Devin Neal is projected to score 1.5 points this week while Brashard Smith is projected to score 2.4 points.
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