Who Should I Start? Rhamondre Stevenson or Quentin Johnston

Wednesday, October 22, 10:11 AM

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has solidified himself as the clear workhorse in the backfield. Through seven games, Stevenson has totaled 69 carries for 245 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 15 receptions for 154 yards through the air. He showcased his trademark power running style in Week 7, rumbling for 88 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against the Tennessee Titans. Many expected rookie TreVeyon Henderson to see an expanded role following Antonio Gibson's season-ending knee injury, but that hasn't materialized. Over the last two games, Stevenson has dominated the workload, playing 77% of the snaps, compared to Henderson's 15%. While Stevenson remains the lead back, fantasy managers should still proceed with caution, as any given week could feature a change in the backfield rotation, especially with the team's second-round investment in Henderson. For Week 8, Stevenson projects as a high-end RB3 against the Cleveland Browns, who boast one of the toughest run defenses in the league.

Friday, October 17, 6:23 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (hamstring) is trending towards playing after missing last week due to a hamstring injury, logging a full practice on Friday. When healthy, Johnston has been productive, averaging 75.4 yards per game with 26 catches, 377 yards, and four touchdowns so far this season, with a 50% deep target rate. He now faces a weak Indianapolis Colts defense that ranks 22nd in Opponent Passing Yards per Game and has a banged-up secondary, which favors his downfield targets. Although his recent injury may have caused his ranking to decline, the high-scoring nature of this game should keep him heavily involved, especially in the red zone. RotoBaller projects Johnston as WR26 this week. If he is active, he should be considered a high-risk, high-reward WR3.