Who Should I Start? Kyren Williams or Chase Brown

Tuesday, August 5, 12:05 PM

The Los Angeles Rams and running back Kyren Williams agreed to a three-year, $33 million extension on Tuesday, including $23 million in guarantees, according to agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. Williams gets rewarded with a new deal after topping 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last two seasons with the rams. Last year in 16 regular-season starts, the 24-year-old had a career-high 316 carries for 1,299 rushing yards and a career-best 14 rushing touchdowns, adding a career-high 34 receptions on 40 targets for another 182 yards and two scores. The numbers were great for fantasy purposes, but Williams wasn't as efficient as his Pro Bowl season in 2023, and second-year RB Blake Corum could see more involvement in 2025. It will be hard for Williams to ever be as efficient as he was in 2023 if Corum becomes more involved. He's on the RB1/2 borderline in RotoBaller's rankings.

Monday, August 4, 1:50 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown is expected to see an uptick in his passing-game numbers in 2025 after he caught 14 passes for 156 yards a year ago, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Brown has worked to improve his receiving abilities, and head coach Zac Taylor thinks it can be a strength for him. Despite the fact that the Bengals have studs in the passing game with receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and tight end Mike Gesicki, the expectation is that Brown "will serve as a safety valve in the screen game when defenses try to take away Chase or Higgins." The 25-year-old took over the backfield from Zack Moss (no longer on the team) last year and came 10 yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark while adding 11 total touchdowns in 16 games (10 starts). Brown is the focal point of one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, making him a low-end RB1 target.