Who Should I Start? Jarquez Hunter or Brashard Smith

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Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Jarquez Hunter News

Jarquez Hunter Not Close to Having Fantasy Relevance?

Sunday, March 22, 5:15 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter is buried too far down the depth chart to justify rostering him in dynasty fantasy football leagues. When Hunter was selected as a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, there was some speculation that he could ascend into the No. 2 running back role behind Kyren Williams. Instead, he was a healthy scratch for 12 of 17 games as a rookie, falling below Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers on the depth chart. Even when he was active, he didn't log an offensive snap. Rivers is now a free agent, but even if Hunter jumps to third in the pecking order, he'll still be a long way from fantasy relevance. The 23-year-old can be dropped in most dynasty leagues, less than one year after initially being drafted.

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Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.		 Rush.
Yds.		 Rush
TD		 Rec. Rec.
Yds.		 Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Brashard Smith News

Brashard Smith's Ascension Put on Pause?

Sunday, March 15, 2:07 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith may not take as big a leap as initially anticipated in 2026. The Chiefs recently signed running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43 million deal, locking him in as their primary ball-carrier through 2028. That move seems to put a damper on Smith's upside after it initially seemed like he could be headed for a larger role. Smith patiently waited his turn behind Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, who both struggled in 2025. Meanwhile, Smith showed plenty of upside and the potential for a second-year breakout, finishing off the regular season with 12 carries for 56 yards (plus two catches on four targets) in Week 18. While the Chiefs did shake up their backfield by letting Isiah Pacheco (and likely Kareem Hunt) depart in free agency, they also signed Emari Demercado along with Walker, which means that Smith will likely open next season as the team's No. 3 running back once again. His path to carving out meaningful fantasy value in 2026 just got much more challenging, but managers should remain patient and hold him in dynasty leagues for now.

Jarquez Hunter vs. Brashard Smith

Still trying to decide between Hunter and Smith? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jarquez Hunter is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Brashard Smith is projected to score 0.0 points.