Who Should I Start? Javonte Williams or Chase Brown

Sunday, January 7, 11:41 PM

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams finished the regular season with a strong performance in the 27-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. He led the team with nine carries for 32 yards and only his third rushing touchdown of the season and also led the team with seven catches on a team-high nine targets for an additional 43 yards. It helped that rookie Jaleel McLaughlin left the game with a head injury and never returned. The 23-year-old entered Week 18 after barely averaging over 2.00 yards per carry the last two weeks, but he was able to finish strong heading into the offseason. Overall, the third-year back was a disappointment, carrying the ball 217 times for 774 yards and three touchdowns while adding 47 catches (58 targets) for 228 yards and two TDs through the air. Heading into the final year of his contract, Williams' fantasy value in 2024 will depend on what Denver does at the QB position in the offseason.

Sunday, January 7, 9:26 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown had 43 yards off 11 carries in Sunday's win over the Browns. He added one catch for 10 yards. The Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention after the Week 17 loss to the Chiefs. However, Cincinnati wanted to end the year with a winning record. Brown's 11 attempts were the most of his career. Although he couldn't find the end zone for the second time this season, he still had a decent year as Joe Mixon's backup. At any rate, the 23-year-old should at least remain the No. 2 running back on the depth chart, so he'll draw interest from fantasy managers during drafts ahead of Week 1 for insurance purposes. Of course, the Bengals should strongly consider keeping Joe Mixon on the roster, even more so since he had 12 touchdowns this season. Yet, Brown's outlook could improve even more if he finds himself atop the depth chart heading into the 2024-25 campaign.