Who Should I Start? Kenny McIntosh or Phil Mafah

Saturday, July 26, 8:46 PM

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (knee) is believed to have sustained a torn ACL. He suffered the injury during practice on Saturday, requiring assistance off the field. The 25-year-old finished the 2024 campaign with only 172 yards off 31 carries. He is competing for the No. 3 spot behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet while potentially serving as a return man on special teams. However, with McIntosh's season likely over, rookie Damien Martinez could replace him on the depth chart, although that won't help him be relevant for fantasy managers, at least as long as Walker and Charbonnet are healthy. McIntosh will undergo further testing, with an official diagnosis expected soon.

Sunday, August 31, 4:05 PM

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four games of the regular season with a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason finale. The seventh-round pick out of Clemson showed flashes in the preseason with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, good for a solid 3.9 yards per carry. Standing six-foot and weighing 234 pounds, Mafah's big-bodied, between-the-tackles style was impressive in his final college season, rushing for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns. His placement on IR is a setback, but with the Cowboys' current running back situation, a potential revolving door of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Jaydon Blue, Mafah remains a potential contributor later in the season. He is worth a roster spot in deeper dynasty leagues. Still, his fantasy value will stay uncertain until he returns to full health and the backfield situation becomes clearer throughout the season.