Who Should I Start? Raheem Mostert or DJ Giddens

Sunday, September 7, 12:00 PM

Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert is inactive for Week 1 of the 2025 regular season on Sunday against the New England Patriots. Mostert is healthy heading into the regular-season opener, so this is a bad sign for his potential involvement in the Raiders' backfield this year in his first year with the team. The Raiders drafted rookie Ashton Jeanty in the first round in April, and he's fully expected to lead Vegas' backfield in his first year in the NFL. The oft-injured Mostert has now been bumped down the depth chart and will open the year as the RB4 behind Jeanty, Zamir White and Dylan Laube. The 33-year-old veteran can be dumped if you were rostering him as a handcuff for Jeanty in redraft leagues. Mostert led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2023 in Miami but played in 13 games last year and fell to just two TDs.

Wednesday, September 10, 9:29 AM

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back DJ Giddens had a good performance in Week 1 with 41 rushing yards on 12 carries, suitable for a 3.4 YPC. With the Colts up big against the Miami Dolphins, Giddens entered the game to make his NFL debut in the third quarter in place of All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor has been a bit injury-riddled in the past, so if Giddens can continue to impress, it's possible the Colts keep him at the No. 2 running back position over Tyler Goodson (elbow) as the season goes on. The fifth-round rookie was excellent in his final season at Kansas State, and had 205 rushing attempts for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 21 receptions for 258 yards and one touchdown, starting all 12 games for Kansas State and earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. Giddens is a priority stash with leagues carrying a larger bench, especially for those rostering Taylor. In Week 2, the Colts face a tough home matchup against the Denver Broncos.