Who Should I Start? Mike Boone or Phil Mafah

Tuesday, August 12, 9:58 AM

Free-agent running backs Mike Boone and Aaron Shampklin have signed contracts with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins wasted little time beefing up their running-back corps after they lost Alexander Mattison (neck) to a season-ending neck injury following their first preseason game on Sunday. Boone played in six games for the Carolina Panthers in 2024, handling 13 carries for 51 yards. Shampklin appeared in four games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, carrying the ball six times for 17 yards. Both players will compete with Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright for a reserve role behind locked-in starter De'Von Achane.

Saturday, August 9, 11:43 AM

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah indicated Friday that he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder during his final college season at Clemson, Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News reports. Mafah has been looking good in camp thus far and mentioned that he is feeling healthy, then proceeded to discuss his 2024 injury. During the 2024 season, he rushed for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns on 216 carries. He also caught 21 passes for 103 yards and played all 14 games, starting every one, and was voted a permanent team captain by his teammates. Those are still solid numbers considering he was dealing with a shoulder injury. Nonetheless, it could be why he fell to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft in the spring. A big performance from Mafah on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams could create a running back battle in the Cowboys' backfield between the two veterans (Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders) and the two rookies (Jaydon Blue and Mafah) ahead of Week 1. At this point, from a fantasy standpoint, Mafah remains a dynasty stash at best.