Who Should I Start? J.K. Dobbins or Jonathon Brooks

Thursday, September 19, 3:30 PM

Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins is set for another strong performance in a Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dobbins is the overall fantasy RB4 through the first two weeks of the season, and several statistics show that it's not just a fluke. He ranks first in the NFL in explosive run rate and missed tackles forced per attempt. He's 12th in the league in yards after contact, and the Chargers offensive line has been excellent in opening up running lanes, with the Chargers offense tops in the league in yards before contact in the running game. The Steelers defense is solid over all, but has been just about average against running backs through the first two weeks of the season. Dobbins is a high-end RB2 with clear upside.

Sunday, September 1, 9:52 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss at least the first four games of the regular season after he was placed on the PUP list amidst his torn ACL recovery. This will delay Brooks' NFL debut, and he'll face an uphill battle to emerge as the Panthers' No. 1 running back once he's healthy. While Brooks is undoubtedly the Panthers' franchise running back, it could be difficult for him to win the job over Chuba Hubbard in the middle of the season while recovering from a serious injury and still acclimating to the NFL caliber of play. In other words, a Week 5 return wouldn't necessarily mean he'd warrant a spot in your Week 5 starting lineup. At the very least, fantasy managers should tamper expectations when Brooks gets healthy and be prepared to exercise patience as he gets adjusted to the NFL.