Who Should I Start? Rhamondre Stevenson or Jaylen Warren

Friday, September 5, 10:11 AM

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson "will likely lead the team in carries" in the opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic. In the same article, Graff predicts that it's "only a matter of time" before rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson takes over the team's RB1 role, so Stevenson's lead-rusher role could be short-lived. However, fantasy managers should be aware of the likely early-season split between the two backs. Henderson profiles as a low-end RB2/high-end flex option for Week 1, while Stevenson projects as a low-end RB3/flex.

Friday, September 5, 6:11 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren will begin his first campaign as the team's featured ballcarrier in a road bout with the New York Jets. Warren thrived in a complementary role through his first three seasons, averaging 4.8 yards per tote while adding 127 receptions. Although he is expected to lead Pittsburgh's backfield ahead of rookie Kaleb Johnson, Warren will be tested by a solid New York defense. The Jets shut down running backs in the passing game and held the position to the fifth-fewest yards per carry in 2024. This is expected to be a low-scoring affair, so while Warren doesn't offer extreme upside, he can be started as a volume-based RB2 or flex option in Week 1.