Who Should I Start? MarShawn Lloyd or Brashard Smith

Tuesday, August 26, 5:11 PM

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) was placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday and has been designated to return, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. It means that Lloyd can return after missing the first four games of the 2025 campaign. Head coach Matt LaFleur had already said that the oft-injured second-year RB would miss time to start the year due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in the preseason finale last weekend. The 24-year-old cannot seem to shake his hamstring injuries, as he also dealt with the same issue in his rookie season, among other things, and ended up suiting up in just one game. Green Bay has a bye in Week 5, so the earliest Lloyd can return will be in Week 6 on Oct. 12 versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Fantasy managers can avoid him for now in 12-team leagues, while Emanuel Wilson becomes the primary handcuff option for those that draft Josh Jacobs.

Sunday, August 31, 8:53 AM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith made the 53-man roster in Kansas City, and could have a pathway to the field during his first season with the team. The rookie cleared the first hurdle by sticking around through training camp, which is no guarantee as a seventh-round pick. But with Isiah Pacheco less than a year removed from a broken leg, Smith's competition for time is veterans Kareem Hunt and Elijah Mitchell. As a former wide receiver, the rookie has a skill set the Chiefs like, having featured similarly skilled Jerk McKinnon in prior years. Smith has some lottery ticket appeal playing in Andy Reid's offense.