Who Should I Start? JaMycal Hasty or Pierre Strong Jr.

Thursday, August 21, 11:16 PM

New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty rushed for 30 yards on 11 carries during Thursday's preseason finale against the New York Giants. He also converted his lone target into a nine-yard reception. With the preseason wrapping up, New England played most of its depth players against the Giants. Their gameday roster included Hasty, who is the lone Patriots running back whose status still appears to be up in the air. TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Antonio Gibson are virtually locks to make the team, but if the Patriots opt to keep a fourth running back, that job would likely go to Hasty. The veteran running back clearly has the attention of New England's front office, which claimed him off waivers in 2023, kept him around in 2024, and re-signed him to the roster just a few weeks ago. Even if he does make the team, Hasty's limited role would keep him off the fantasy radar.

Saturday, October 18, 2:51 PM

The Green Bay Packers have elevated running back Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad for the team's Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Packers RB1 Josh Jacobs (calf) practiced in full on Friday, but is officially listed as questionable to play in Week 7 due to a calf injury. If Jacobs were to be sidelined, Green Bay would likely split backfield work between Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks, and Strong Jr. Wilson has rushed for 671 yards and four touchdowns on 135 carries across 29 career games for the Packers and has served as the team's primary RB2 so far this season. While Jacobs should still be expected to play, fantasy managers might be wise to scoop up Wilson in leagues where that's still possible, just in case Jacobs is a late scratch.