Who Should I Start? Rashaad Penny or Chase Brown

Monday, May 6, 2:01 PM

Free-agent running back Rashaad Penny plans to sign an undisclosed deal with the Carolina Panthers, according to a source. The former first-round pick will reunite with head coach Dave Canales from their time together with the Seattle Seahawks. Penny will likely officially sign after the team's rookie minicamp, which wraps up on May 12. The 28-year-old from San Diego State was the 27th overall pick in 2018. Penny spent the first five years of his career in Seattle, displaying home run-hitting ability on the ground but struggling to stay healthy, appearing in just 42 games (11 starts). He played in just three games with the Eagles in 2023 and had only 11 carries for 33 yards. Penny will be joining another crowded backfield in Carolina that already consists of Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathon Brooks, so he's not going to be on the fantasy radar.

Friday, July 26, 9:41 PM

Since the beginning of the Cincinnati Bengals training camp, Chase Brown has taken the majority of reps as the starting running back with the first-team offense. If Brown is indeed the preferred option to lead Zac Taylor's offense, fantasy managers are not drafting him high enough. The former Illinois product is currently the RB37 (No. 113 in ADP), while his backfield mate Zack Moss is going 20 picks before him -- the RB31 -- as the presumed lead back in the Bengals offense. It is presently unclear if Brown has superseded Moss in Cincinnati's pecking order, but this will obviously be a situation to monitor as we encroach on Week 1. Before Joe Burrow fell victim to multiple hindering injuries last season, the Bengals ranked in the top ten each of the prior two seasons in team points per game. Regardless of who the lead back is going into 2024, this should be an offense that presents many scoring opportunities.