Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or Pierre Strong Jr.

Friday, September 29, 12:11 AM

Denver Broncos running back Samaje Perine was expected to have a significant role in the backfield early on in his first year in Denver with Javonte Williams being eased in following a major knee injury in 2022. Perine looked pretty explosive on 12 touches in the season opener and played the same number of offensive snaps as Williams. But in the last two weeks, he's disappeared, combining for four carries for 13 yards and five catches for 35 yards. The Broncos understandably abandoned the run game in a 50-point loss to the Dolphins in Week 3, but his drop in involvement the last two weeks has been concerning. Rookie Jaleel McLaughlin has seen more carries and has even scored. The Chicago Bears are an extremely inviting matchup for RBs, but will Perine even see enough touches to be worth considering as an RB4/flex in fantasy? We have our doubts.

Tuesday, September 19, 11:36 AM

Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. got onto the field in the Monday night loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers because of the season-ending injury to Nick Chubb (knee) and took advantage by scoring his first touchdown of the season. Strong finished with only two carries for one yard and the goal-line touchdown while failing to haul in his only target in the passing game. The 24-year-old will now have an elevated role with Chubb out for the rest of the year, but Jerome Ford, who had a team-high 16 carries for 106 yards after Chubb left, should be the priority waiver-wire addition in all fantasy leagues this week if he's available. Strong is worth an addition as well for those managers that miss out on Ford in deeper leagues.