Who Should I Start? Kyle Juszczyk or Chris Brooks

Saturday, August 2, 3:58 PM

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (undisclosed) and running back Isaac Guerendo (shoulder/arm) both left the team's Saturday practice early, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Wagoner writes that Juszczyk was "moving slowly." The 34-year-old is a key piece as a blocker and a receiver in the 49ers' offense, having racked up 2,901 yards from scrimmage over the course of his 12-year career. Juszczyk is uniquely versatile as a player, so there's not a clear replacement for him on San Francisco's roster if he were to miss time. Guerendo is expected to be the primary backup to star 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. In 16 games as a rookie in 2024, Guerendo recorded 84 carries for 420 yards and four touchdowns. It's unclear how much time (if any) Guerendo will miss, but he now joins fifth-round rookie Jordan James (knee) as 49ers backs dealing with injuries. The team signed veteran rusher Ameer Abdullah on Thursday to bolster its depth at the position. If healthy, Guerendo is a premium handcuff option for fantasy.

Saturday, August 23, 8:08 PM

Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks was the second back to enter the game for the Packers in their 20-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in their third and final preseason game. Brooks took over duties after Josh Jacobs received the first two snaps of the game. Playing seven snaps of his own, Brooks exited and gave way to Emanuel Wilson. In Brooks' seven snaps across the last play of the first drive and the first six plays of the next drive, Brooks took four carries for 15 yards. With the injury to MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) putting his Week 1 status in doubt, Brooks' entrance into the game ahead of Wilson seems to put Brooks as the preferred contingent play in Week 1 should Lloyd not be healthy. That said, Brooks should only be drafted in the deepest of leagues as a pure handcuff option.