Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or Woody Marks

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.

Saturday, August 30, 12:01 PM

Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks is poised to have a role in the team's offense early on in his career. Marks, a fourth-round pick of Houston back in April's draft, spent four campaigns at the collegiate level with Mississippi State, but didn't break out as a rusher until 2024 during his time with USC. However, the 24-year-old's skill as a receiver is what sets him apart from the Texans' other options. Marks caught fewer than 47 balls just once in college, recording seasons with 60 and 83 receptions, too. With teammate Joe Mixon's (ankle) ankle injury clouding his status for 2025, the 24-year-old will be required to outwork Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale for backfield touches. Opportunities in the run game could be sparse with veteran Nick Chubb ahead of him in the pecking order, but Marks figures to get a chance to stand out in the receiving game. He's an intriguing late-round selection for zero-RB drafters and is a nice stash in dynasty formats.