Who Should I Start? Phil Mafah or LeQuint Allen Jr.

Sunday, August 31, 4:05 PM

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the first four games of the regular season with a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason finale. The seventh-round pick out of Clemson showed flashes in the preseason with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, good for a solid 3.9 yards per carry. Standing six-foot and weighing 234 pounds, Mafah's big-bodied, between-the-tackles style was impressive in his final college season, rushing for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns. His placement on IR is a setback, but with the Cowboys' current running back situation, a potential revolving door of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Jaydon Blue, Mafah remains a potential contributor later in the season. He is worth a roster spot in deeper dynasty leagues. Still, his fantasy value will stay uncertain until he returns to full health and the backfield situation becomes clearer throughout the season.

Wednesday, September 10, 10:35 AM

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back LeQuint Allen Jr. is in line for more playing time following the trade of veteran Tank Bigsby. In Week 1, Allen saw nine offensive snaps, recording one carry for seven yards and adding a four-yard reception in the Jaguars' 26-10 win over Carolina. By comparison, fellow rookie Bhayshul Tuten logged just four snaps. Allen's pass-catching ability may give him the edge as the primary backup to Travis Etienne Jr., especially with the Jaguars heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati's defense allowed the third-most receptions to running backs in Week 1, which could open the door for Allen to carve out a role as a receiving complement. While he's not a viable start in Week 2, Allen is a name to monitor closely. If his role continues to grow, his receiving usage could make him fantasy-relevant in deeper leagues sooner rather than later.