Who Should I Start? Jarquez Hunter or Tahj Brooks

Thursday, July 10, 3:15 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter was a fourth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft after a fantastic final season at Auburn. This offseason, the Rams coaching staff is pleased with his attention to detail and the way he has picked up the team's playbook. "He's a young man that's very focused on making sure he's doing exactly what we need him to do in order for him to take that next step," running backs coach Ron Gould said. "And then I was just very surprised at how quickly he picked up everything." The rookie will surely begin the season behind Pro Bowl running back Kyren Williams, but Williams struggled with explosiveness in 2024, posting just two 20-plus-yard runs on 316 carries. Meanwhile, Hunter ranked second nationally in runs of 10-plus yards per carry in 2024. With Blake Corum struggling to make an impact last year, Hunter could be the favorite to win the RB2 role. And if Williams continues to lack big-play upside, we could see a healthy mix of Hunter as a change-of-pace back. If he's the clear RB2 in Los Angeles, he has potential league-winning upside in the case of Williams injury.

Thursday, July 31, 9:24 PM

Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Tahj Brooks has reportedly "turned heads in camp" and has a clear path to the team's RB2 role after Cincinnati released veteran running back Zack Moss on Wednesday. A sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech, Brooks gained 1,704 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns in just 11 games for the Red Raiders in 2024. The Bengals have Chase Brown entrenched as their starter at running back, so Brooks will be battling veterans Samaje Perine and Gary Brightwell for the RB2 role. Perine is known for his third-down work as a pass-catcher and pass-protector, which could earn him the job early in the season. Brooks may need an injury to Brown to see enough playing time to make an impact in fantasy, but he could be an intriguing late-round handcuff option.