Who Should I Start? Emanuel Wilson or Jonathon Brooks

Sunday, January 5, 5:02 PM

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson led the Packers in carries and was one of the main contributors in the Packers' 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Wilson saw a handful of carries on the Packers' second drive but took the bulk of his work once starter Josh Jacobs left after his second-quarter touchdown. Tallying 73 rushing yards on 14 carries, a good chunk of those yards came on Wilson's 21-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter that put the Packers within striking distance. Wilson also caught one pass for minus-two yards. With the Packers heading east to Philadelphia for their playoff game with the Eagles in the Wild Card round, Wilson will remain the backup to Jacobs without a realistic path to substantial work for playoff fantasy contests.

Tuesday, February 11, 10:19 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after his second ACL tear in 2024 as a rookie. In addition to Brooks, the Panthers are expected to cut running back Miles Sanders. It's why The Athletic's Joseph Person has the Panthers taking SMU RB Brashard Smith with a fifth-round selection in his 2025 mock draft. Smith could be a nice change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard next year in the Panthers' backfield. The 21-year-old Brooks can be avoided in all single-year fantasy drafts this fall after suffering a gruesome injury in his first year in the NFL. Brooks could have a lengthier recovery after already tearing the same ACL in his final collegiate season at the University of Texas. In three games in 2024, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards.