Who Should I Start? Kareem Hunt or Tahj Brooks

Wednesday, November 26, 4:40 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will have to share the backfield with Isiah Pacheco as he returns from his knee injury to face the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day in Week 13. Hunt feasted without Pacheco out of the lineup, handling 30 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown in last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts. Hunt also caught three passes for 26 yards in Week 12. The veteran back was asked to do it all, and he found a ton of success, but it appears his ceiling will be lowered with Pacheco entering the fold. That said, Hunt could still be the lead back on Thanksgiving if the Chiefs decide to ease Pacheco back into action. Hunt has been the team's preferred goal-line and third-down back this season, even with Pachecho healthy, so fantasy managers should expect that role to continue. Hunt will try to continue his run of success this week against the Cowboys, who have allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. The addition of DT Quinnen Williams to the Dallas defense should make it a bit more difficult to rush, but Hunt's involvement in the passing game could help offset that. Hunt is ranked RB32 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, making him an RB3/Flex option against the Cowboys in Week 13.

Monday, November 24, 1:36 PM

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has ruled out rookie running back Tahj Brooks (concussion) for this Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 13, according to Jay Morrison of SI.com. Brooks suffered a concussion in Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots, and on a short week, the 23-year-old won't be able to clear the league's concussion protocol. Veteran Samaje Perine (ankle) has missed the last two games due to injury and might not be available this week, either, so the Bengals' backfield could be extremely thin behind Chase Brown this week versus Baltimore. If Perine ends up missing a third straight game, expect Gary Brightwell to operate as Cincy's RB2 behind Brown on Turkey Day. Brooks has only nine rushing attempts in 11 games this year for 28 rushing yards.