Who Should I Start? Julius Chestnut or Blake Corum

Saturday, October 4, 12:57 AM

Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut could be headed for a reduced workload in Week 5 despite a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Chestnut has operated as a backup to Tony Pollard through the first four weeks of the season. While his usage has been relatively modest given that Pollard leads all NFL running backs in snap share, Chestnut has still been his backup and did see the field in every game, logging five total carries. That marginal usage could drop to no usage as soon as Tyjae Spears (ankle) returns to game action. Spears is currently on injured reserve but has been designated to return and is questionable for Week 5. Chestnut's already limited opportunity share would surely disappear entirely as soon as another reliable, proven player like Spears is added to the backfield. If Spears plays Sunday, Chestnut, 24, might not touch the ball. Even if he remains on IR, though, the Sacred Heart product is due for just a couple of touches and remains off the fantasy radar.

Thursday, December 18, 1:41 AM

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum has been a very pleasant surprise over the last few weeks. Throughout his last three games, he has 280 rushing yards and four touchdowns, ranking as the overall RB4 in half-PPR leagues over that span. During that three-week window, he has boasted terrific efficiency with an average of 9.3 yards per carry. Corum will remain a fantasy-relevant running back heading into Thursday's Week 16 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, who have a strong run defense. The tougher matchup is worth considering, but Corum's touchdown streak and elite efficiency lately should help managers justify deploying him in their lineups. His role is relatively safe, too, as he played a season-high 46% of the snaps last week as the Rams continue their efforts to keep Kyren Williams fresh for the playoffs. Corum should handle double-digit touches again in Week 16, so as long as he maintains his efficiency and stays involved around the goal line, he can be a top-24 fantasy running back. As it stands, he ranks as the overall RB34 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings for Week 16.