Who Should I Start? Tank Bigsby or Tahj Brooks

Wednesday, February 18, 6:50 AM

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby's short-term value might have dwindled upon his midseason trade from Jacksonville to Philadelphia, but he solidified himself as a top-tier handcuff with the potential for long-term upside. Bigsby spent most of 2025 in a special teams role, as touches were limited behind Saquon Barkley. However, he did have some opportunities to produce out of the backfield, especially when the Eagles jumped out to an early lead and rested some starters. In Week 8 against the Giants, he exploded for 104 yards on nine carries. He added another 209 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns over the final four games of the season. Bigsby has established himself as one of the most appealing handcuffs in fantasy football, as he'd become a potential top-12 fantasy running back if Barkley were to get hurt. Plus, the Eagles have a potential out in Barkley's contract next offseason, so if the front office believes this is his final year in Philadelphia, we could see the coaching staff give Bigsby more touches in preparation for a prominent role in 2027. These are all hypotheticals at this point, but at the very least, Bigsby is an intriguing handcuff option with top-12 upside. He's absolutely worth buying in dynasty leagues this offseason, especially for managers who have Barkley on their roster already.

Friday, February 20, 7:31 AM

A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals running back Tahj Brooks played a minimal role on offense in his first professional season. Across 16 games, the 23-year-old recorded just 54 yards from scrimmage on 17 total touches. Bengals running back Chase Brown has logged nearly 600 touches over the past two seasons combined and is locked in as the RB1 in Cincinnati for at least 2026, blocking Brooks off from significant playing time. The Bengals also have steady veteran back Samaje Perine under contract for the 2026 season. Perine recorded 469 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns across 15 games with Cincinnati in 2025, and his reputation as a solid pass blocker and receiver should keep him secure in the team's third-down role. Post 2026, Brooks could have a pathway to more playing time in Cincinnati. However, it appears unlikely that he will have a chance to prove himself in the short term, barring an injury to Brown or Perine. Brooks' value in dynasty formats should be trending downward after his quiet rookie campaign.