Who Should I Start? Jonathon Brooks or Jawhar Jordan

Monday, December 8, 12:54 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is exactly a year removed from tearing his right ACL for a second time, but he said that he feels "pretty much almost 100 percent again," according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is doing straight-line running and hopes to start mixing in full-speed cutting and route running soon. Barring a setback, he could return to the practice field in the spring for organized team activities (OTAs). The 22-year-old was the team's second-round pick back in 2024 out of Texas. Since his injury, the Panthers signed Rico Dowdle in free agency and took Trevor Etienne in the fourth round of this year's draft. Dowdle has been one of the best backs in the NFL this year and has formed a dangerous 1-2 punch in Carolina's backfield with Chuba Hubbard. Any expectations fantasy managers holding Brooks might have in dynasty/keeper leagues must be tempered by concerns of injury risk.

Sunday, January 18, 2:00 PM

Houston Texans running back Jawhar Jordan is a healthy inactive for the Divisional Round contest on Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to the team's official website. Jordan suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts and didn't play in the Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. The 26-year-old returned to practice this week, though, and was eventually removed from Friday's final injury report. Jordan took over RB2 duties from veteran Nick Chubb late in the year, but Chubb will handle backup duties behind rookie Woody Marks in New England on Sunday. Chubb had double-digit carries (10) against the Steelers for the first time since Nov. 2, but a lot of his work came in garbage time in the second half in the 30-6 blowout win. Fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting Chubb to handle much volume against the Pats.