Who Should I Start? Jeremy McNichols or Chris Brooks

Tuesday, March 11, 4:37 PM

The Washington Commanders are re-signing running back Jeremy McNichols to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, a source tells ESPN's John Keim. Although McNichols wasn't on the fantasy radar at all last year in his first year in D.C., he was a valuable member of the team's RB room as a backup for his blitz pickups while also contributing a career-high 267 rushing yards and a career-high four rushing touchdowns on 55 carries over 17 regular-season games (one start). He also had nine catches for 27 yards and added nine yards and a touchdown on five carries in three playoff games. With both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler returning to the Commanders' backfield in 2025, McNichols will open the year as the No. 3 RB and will have a bigger role on special teams as a return man. The 29-year-old has only 625 rushing yards and five rushing TDs on 145 carries over seven NFL seasons.

Saturday, August 16, 10:03 PM

Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks looks to continue carving out a role in the Packers' backfield and stated his case in the Packers' 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday afternoon. Mixing in with MarShawn Lloyd, Brooks saw the second-most snaps with the Packers' starters per Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke. Seeing mostly late-down work, particularly on third down, Brooks may have an opening to see a little bit of work behind Josh Jacobs and Lloyd as the third running back, ahead of Emanuel Wilson. From Week 6 through the end of last season, Brooks averaged 15 snaps a game for the Packers in 2024 as the third back in a rotation with Jacobs and Wilson. Brooks looks to be in line for that same role this season, but unfortunately, it's not a fantasy-friendly role even with an injury ahead of him. Keep him undrafted or on waivers to begin the season.