Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or Emari Demercado

Thursday, May 1, 3:25 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine is expected to have a lesser version of the two-minute, passing-down role that he held near the end of his first tenure with the organization, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. Perine spent the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons with the Bengals and secured 38 receptions in his final season with the team. After a year with Denver and a year with Kansas City, he's back in Joe Burrow's offense and will have somewhat of a role in the backfield. However, the 29-year-old is likely well past his prime, and Chase Brown showed enough to have confidence in him as a starting fantasy football running back in 2025. Either way, Perine could be worth rostering in deeper PPR setups based on this report.

Sunday, August 24, 8:26 AM

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado received the most carries out of a crowded backfield on Saturday, but couldn't turn it into much. As the Cardinals beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday, Demercado posted 22 yards on seven carries and caught two of his three targets for eight yards. Bam Knight led the way with 83 yards and a touchdown on five carries, while Michael Carter posted 47 yards on five carries. Demercado's preseason left a lot to be desired, but the 26-year-old seems to still have the trust of the team as the third-string back for the time being.