Who Should I Start? Jonathan Taylor or Jonathon Brooks

Thursday, August 7, 7:19 PM

ESPN's Stephen Holder reports that Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (groin) are a few of the team's starters that will not be suiting up for Thursday's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. In addition to Taylor and Pittman, DeForest Buckner, Braden Smith, Josh Downs, Bernhard Raimann and Grover Stewart will be on the sidelines. Pittman's fantasy stock is falling after he finished shy of 1,000 receiving yards with only three touchdowns in 2024 while battling through injuries. The Colts' QB situation isn't endearing, either, and Pittman will continue to battle for targets with emerging wideouts Downs and Adonai Mitchell. He's fallen to WR4/flex territory. For the volume alone with nobody to really challenge him for backfield touches in Indy, Taylor remains a top-10 fantasy RB.

Thursday, May 8, 1:14 PM

The Carolina Panthers placed running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday, meaning he will not play at all in the 2025 season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Brooks tore his right ACL in Week 14 of his rookie season in 2024, his second ACL tear in as many years. The 21-year-old didn't make his NFL debut until Week 12 last year and played in just three games before unfortunately suffering another ACL tear. In his three games with Carolina, the second-rounder (46th overall) out of Texas had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards. It's been a tough last couple of years for Brooks, who probably will never be the same runner he was before tearing his right ACL twice. The Panthers will move forward with Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne as their RBs in 2025.