Who Should I Start? Khari Blasingame or Patrick Taylor

Friday, September 20, 9:20 PM

Chicago Bears full-back Khari Blasingame (hand/knee) has officially been ruled out ahead of the team's Week 3 matchup against the Colts in Indianapolis. Blasingame has not recorded a rush attempt or target through two weeks of the 2024 season and has played on just seven offensive snaps. However, the sixth-year veteran has racked up 14 snaps on special teams. He's not often featured and probably wouldn't factor much into Chicago's game plan, even if he was healthy. Blasingame is the only active full-back on Chicago's roster, so tight ends Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis may mix in to pick up the slack as needed. It's tough to trust the Bears' offense, but there's a chance they have a better game than anticipated against a porous Colts defense.

Friday, December 20, 10:01 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Patrick Taylor Jr. is expected to draw his first career start filling in for the ruled-out rookie Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) in Miami on Sunday. With Guerendo healthy enough to play, the undrafted 26-year-old Taylor Jr. received neither touch nor target in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The last time Taylor was involved was in Week 14 versus Chicago when he took seven carries for 25 yards, one touchdown, and one unfulfilled target. On the surface, Taylor Jr. may seem like a must-start since head coach Kyle Shanahan always rides his lead back heavily, but it's appropriate to temper expectations. If one includes Elijah Mitchell -- who was ruled out for the year in the preseason -- San Francisco is down to their fifth-string running back whose career YPC (3.9) is significantly below all four backs ahead of him. As a result, Shanahan may be compelled to use some combination of Taylor Jr., Israel Abanikanda, and Ke'Shawn Vaughn. Taylor Jr. is also less likely than his injured teammates to produce as a receiver. Miami's D is ranked 14th in running back half-PPR points against. The talent and usage questions place Taylor Jr. firmly in RB3/FLEX territory, even in a decent matchup.