Who Should I Start? MarShawn Lloyd or Ollie Gordon II

Wednesday, September 17, 2:48 PM

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) remains on Injured Reserve but is eligible to return in Week 6 against a vulnerable Bengals defense. The Packers' backfield has leaned heavily on Josh Jacobs, who has accounted for 42 of the team's 55 rushing attempts through two games. That kind of workload will be difficult to sustain, and the lack of usage for reserves Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson--each with just one carry--suggests the coaching staff isn't comfortable leaning on them in meaningful situations. Lloyd's eventual return could provide Green Bay with a much-needed spark, as his speed and big-play ability were evident during the preseason. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should monitor Lloyd's progress, as he could quickly carve out a change-of-pace role and potentially spell Jacobs to keep him fresh.

Tuesday, September 23, 4:20 PM

Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II had a big preseason and got good sleeper buzz as a result. However, once the regular season started, he played just 12 snaps in Week 1 and five snaps in Week 2. In those two contests, he had three carries for just 12 yards. Even with Jaylen Wright (knee) off the injury report, Gordon was much more active in Week 3. While he still only played 25% of snaps, he did get nine carries and totaled 38 yards and a touchdown. His score came on the first possession of the game, when he took over for starter De'Von Achane in the red zone. Gordon is much more suited for tough running between the tackles than Achane, while Achane is excellent in space. The two could develop into a nice specialized tandem going forward, and the Dolphins need them to carry the offense while Tua Tagovailoa continues to struggle. Gordon gets good matchups against the Jets and Panthers the next two weeks and is a solid name to consider off the waiver wire in deep leagues.