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

Saturday, December 13, 2:27 PM

The Green Bay Packers have elevated running back Pierre Strong Jr. from their practice squad to the active roster ahead of the team's Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos. With top Green Bay running backs Josh Jacobs (knee) and Emanuel Wilson (illness) both questionable for Sunday, the Packers could be forced to turn to Strong Jr. and Chris Brooks in the backfield. The 27-year-old Strong Jr. has yet to appear in a game so far in 2025. Across 14 games with the Cleveland Browns in 2024, he recorded 212 scrimmage yards on 40 touches. Brooks has just 66 total carries across 37 career NFL games, so it's unclear who Green Bay would turn to as the lead back if both Jacobs and Wilson are out. Fantasy managers may want to stash Strong Jr. off the waiver wire just in case he finds himself in a prominent role come game time on Sunday.

Monday, December 8, 12:54 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is exactly a year removed from tearing his right ACL for a second time, but he said that he feels "pretty much almost 100 percent again," according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is doing straight-line running and hopes to start mixing in full-speed cutting and route running soon. Barring a setback, he could return to the practice field in the spring for organized team activities (OTAs). The 22-year-old was the team's second-round pick back in 2024 out of Texas. Since his injury, the Panthers signed Rico Dowdle in free agency and took Trevor Etienne in the fourth round of this year's draft. Dowdle has been one of the best backs in the NFL this year and has formed a dangerous 1-2 punch in Carolina's backfield with Chuba Hubbard. Any expectations fantasy managers holding Brooks might have in dynasty/keeper leagues must be tempered by concerns of injury risk.