Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or Josh Jacobs

Tuesday, December 30, 2:11 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has finished as a low-end RB2 in each of the past two weeks without cracking a 40% snap share. If the Bengals opt to rest or limit their starters, including the surging Chase Brown, Perine could be in line for a solid workload in a Week 18 matchup against the Browns with nothing but divisional pride on the line. Even if Perine maintains only his usual change of pace and mop-up duties, he has enough of a floor to keep him in consideration for a flex role against a Cleveland defense that just allowed 131 yards on the ground to a Steelers offense with no threat of a passing attack. Readily available on most waiver wires, Perine should be a top priority in any league with a Week 18 title game.

Monday, February 2, 5:41 PM

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs had 13 rushing touchdowns in 15 regular-season starts, but a knee injury he suffered in Week 11 against the New York Giants hampered him the rest of the way and made him a disappointment when fantasy managers needed him the most. The 27-year-old had 929 rushing yards on 234 carries and added 36 catches for 282 yards and another score on 44 targets. Jacobs didn't have a single 100-yard rushing performance and finished under 1,000 yards for only the third time in his seven-year NFL career. The three-time Pro Bowler was the RB12 in half-PPR scoring, and his 234 carries ranked 16th among all RBs. Jacobs has double-digit rushing touchdowns in four of his seven seasons and will be Green Bay's RB1 again in 2026. The volume should be there if he's healthy, but fantasy managers should target Jacobs as more of an RB2 than an RB1.