Who Should I Start? Patrick Taylor Jr. or Malik Davis

Wednesday, August 20, 9:56 AM

The San Francisco 49ers have placed veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on the season-ending injured reserve list. Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team's second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he joins the growing list of 49ers running backs struck by injury. While presumed backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) was able to return to practice on Tuesday after missing several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own, the team has already lost Ameer Abdullah (ribs) for the season. Rookie Jordan James has already missed a few weeks due to a broken finger. After trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers' running back depth has been seriously tested already, which is the last thing the team needs in their efforts to keep All-Pro Christian McCaffrey healthy. Jeff Wilson Jr. and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will likely see the majority of work in the team's final preseason game. If he can remain healthy, McCaffrey once more enters the year as perhaps the biggest difference maker in fantasy football. Still, given his checkered injury history, Guerendo is one of the league's most important backups to roster.

Wednesday, November 26, 12:32 AM

Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis has been active for the last five games, mostly contributing on special teams. However, Davis has seen a slight uptick in playing time on offense in the past two games. After playing just 10 snaps total and handling three carries for six yards in his first three games active on gameday, the 26-year-old has played 25 snaps total and rushed seven times for 44 carries in the past two weeks. Davis noticeably has a bit more explosiveness than starter Javonte Williams and adds a useful change-of-pace element to the Cowboys ' backfield. He had three carries for 24 yards in Dallas' comeback win over the Eagles in Week 12, reaching 15+ mph on two of those carries, per Next Gen Stats. Davis looks like the clear handcuff to Williams at the moment and is stashing on benches in 12-team leagues and deeper.