Who Should I Start? Jonathan Taylor or Trey Benson

Friday, December 12, 10:30 PM

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has had a stellar season. The 26-year-old leads the league in several rushing categories, including yards (1,356) and touchdowns (16). He also ranks second in attempts (247), two behind James Cook III (249). At this point, Taylor appears to be well on his way to having the best season of his career. Unfortunately, the 2020 No. 41 overall pick has cooled since finding the end zone three times versus the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin back in Week 10, scoring only once in his last three appearances. With four regular-season games left on the schedule, Indianapolis is looking for a much-needed win over Seattle on Sunday in hopes of climbing back to the top of the AFC South. However, the Colts have to figure out a way to win without Daniel Jones (Achilles), who will miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign. That means Indy will turn to the recently un-retired Philip Rivers or Riley Leonard (knee) to take over under center in Week 15. All things considered, both quarterbacks could have a tough time getting anything going against a formidable Seahawks defense, meaning Taylor may get his number called even more than usual. Granted, JT might not have the easiest day either, considering Seattle has allowed just four rushing touchdowns this season. Still, despite the challenging matchup on the horizon, Taylor remains a must-start in all season-long fantasy formats. On the other hand, DFS managers should consider alternative options.

Wednesday, December 10, 12:00 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) will not be activated off Injured Reserve for the team's Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Since Benson will not return within his 21-day activation window, he will revert to season-ending IR and will not be eligible to return in 2025. Benson suffered a knee injury in Week 4 that was serious enough to land him on IR, but was not thought at the time to be season-ending. It's unclear whether the 23-year-old suffered a setback once his activation window was opened, or if the 3-10 Cardinals are simply choosing to be cautious with their potential running back of the future. Either way, Benson should now be completely off the radar of redraft fantasy managers for the remainder of 2025. His absence ups the value of Cardinals running backs Bam Knight and Michael Carter, who should continue to see the majority of the team's backfield snaps. Emari Demercado (ankle) could play a role in Arizona as well once he returns from the ankle injury that has sidelined him since Week 11.