Who Should I Start? Jaylen Warren or Omarion Hampton

Friday, July 25, 8:20 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was going through first-team reps during the beginning of Thursday's practice. It would make sense that Warren would get the first chance at the starting job in Pittsburgh. He has earned that opportunity after putting in solid work as the backup over the last few seasons. Most notably, Warren rushed for 784 yards with four touchdowns while earning a 5.26 yards per carry during the 2023 season. The departure of Najee Harris will give Warren a chance to earn full-time reps this upcoming season. However, third-round pick Kaleb Johnson figures to be breathing down his neck. The Iowa product should immediately be in the mix in what many believe will be a co-starter role. It's hard to imagine either back running away with the job, so a co-starter type of situation seems likely.

Tuesday, July 15, 5:16 PM

The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that if Los Angeles Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) misses time in training camp with an eye injury that he suffered during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July, the possibility of rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton beating out Harris for a lead-back role becomes even more likely. Harris' injury is deemed minor, and he should be fully ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, but he could miss some practice time to begin training camp later this week. That could open the door for Hampton, who has tremendous upside and will have a chance to be an immediate difference-maker in the team's run-first offense. The 22-year-old has the explosiveness to score every time he touches the football, and he could see the majority of the first-team work early in camp. RotoBaller has Hampton ranked as the RB21 in fantasy.