Who Should I Start? Jeff Wilson Jr. or Sione Vaki

Sunday, August 10, 8:52 PM

The San Francisco 49ers are signing free-agent running back Jeff Wilson Jr., according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 29-year-old had a recent workout with the team and is now returning to San Francisco, where he began his career under head coach Kyle Shanahan and played from 2018-22. The 49ers traded Wilson to the Dolphins during the 2022 campaign after acquiring Christian McCaffrey from the Carolina Panthers. Wilson combined for a career-high 860 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving) between San Francisco and Miami that year, but his role in the Dolphins' offense diminished from 2023-24. Wilson totaled a meager 16 carries for 57 yards in nine games last season, and he spent several months on the open market as a result. Now that he's reuniting with the 49ers, Wilson will provide healthy depth at RB for a team lacking it behind McCaffrey. Backups Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and Jordan James (finger) are dealing with injuries that will keep them out for a couple of weeks apiece. Meanwhile, recent free-agent pickup Ameer Abdullah (rib) had to leave the team's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos early on Saturday after suffering a rib injury.

Monday, July 21, 9:27 PM

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (leg) left practice on Monday with a leg injury and did not return, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. The Lions drafted Vaki out of Utah in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. The 23-year-old mostly played safety in college, but Detroit drafted him as a running back and has been developing him at the position. Stuck behind David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Craig Reynolds in a crowded Lions' backfield, Vaki mostly played special teams as a rookie. He played in 16 games but recorded just six rushing attempts. Vaki is unlikely to be a factor in fantasy this season either way, but a serious injury could impact his long-term outlook. His status will become clearer when Lions head coach Dan Campbell next meets with the media.