Who Should I Start? Jerome Ford or Woody Marks

Friday, October 10, 7:37 PM

The Athletic's Daniel Popper speculates that if the Los Angeles Chargers explore the trade market at running back with Najee Harris (Achilles) done for the year and rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton (ankle) on Injured Reserve, two potential options could be New York Jets RB Breece Hall and the Cleveland Browns' Jerome Ford. Both Hall and Ford are on expiring deals and could bring the Bolts a compensatory draft pick if they make it to free agency in 2026. Even when Hampton returns from IR, L.A. is going to need a second back to pair with him as a team with a run-first identity under offensive coordinator Greg Roman. At least for Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins, Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal are expected to share the backfield equally, giving them both flex appeal in deeper fantasy leagues. How aggressive the Chargers are on bringing in an outside RB will depend on how Haskins and Vidal fare in the coming weeks.

Wednesday, October 8, 6:07 PM

ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that the Houston Texans still view rookie running back Woody Marks as "predominantly a passing-game back," and one who "had a bit of an injury history in college." It was looking like Marks was taking over the backfield from veteran Nick Chubb when he had a season-high 17 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 50 yards and another TD in the Week 4 win against the Tennessee Titans. However, he was a disappointment in last week's blowout win over the Baltimore Ravens, handling seven carries for 24 yards and failing to reel in his only pass-game target. It means that when Houston is up big, like they were in Baltimore, Chubb will continue to have the playing-time advantage. Marks is still worth rostering in all fantasy leagues, but his backfield takeover in Houston appears to be a little premature.