Who Should I Start? Pierre Strong Jr. or Jonathon Brooks

Saturday, October 18, 2:51 PM

The Green Bay Packers have elevated running back Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad for the team's Week 7 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Packers RB1 Josh Jacobs (calf) practiced in full on Friday, but is officially listed as questionable to play in Week 7 due to a calf injury. If Jacobs were to be sidelined, Green Bay would likely split backfield work between Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks, and Strong Jr. Wilson has rushed for 671 yards and four touchdowns on 135 carries across 29 career games for the Packers and has served as the team's primary RB2 so far this season. While Jacobs should still be expected to play, fantasy managers might be wise to scoop up Wilson in leagues where that's still possible, just in case Jacobs is a late scratch.

Thursday, May 8, 1:14 PM

The Carolina Panthers placed running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday, meaning he will not play at all in the 2025 season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Brooks tore his right ACL in Week 14 of his rookie season in 2024, his second ACL tear in as many years. The 21-year-old didn't make his NFL debut until Week 12 last year and played in just three games before unfortunately suffering another ACL tear. In his three games with Carolina, the second-rounder (46th overall) out of Texas had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards. It's been a tough last couple of years for Brooks, who probably will never be the same runner he was before tearing his right ACL twice. The Panthers will move forward with Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle and rookie Trevor Etienne as their RBs in 2025.