Who Should I Start? Travis Homer or Patrick Taylor Jr.

Sunday, August 10, 10:28 PM

Chicago Bears running back Travis Homer (calf) suffered a calf injury that forced him to leave Sunday's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. Homer had two carries for six yards and two catches for 15 yards before getting hurt. The 27-year-old is entering his seventh NFL season and has been with Chicago since 2023. In 10 games in 2024, Homer earned just nine total touches. If he is forced to miss time, seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai's path to both a roster spot and playing time may be more secure.

Wednesday, August 20, 9:56 AM

The San Francisco 49ers have placed veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on the season-ending injured reserve list. Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team's second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he joins the growing list of 49ers running backs struck by injury. While presumed backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) was able to return to practice on Tuesday after missing several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own, the team has already lost Ameer Abdullah (ribs) for the season. Rookie Jordan James has already missed a few weeks due to a broken finger. After trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers' running back depth has been seriously tested already, which is the last thing the team needs in their efforts to keep All-Pro Christian McCaffrey healthy. Jeff Wilson Jr. and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will likely see the majority of work in the team's final preseason game. If he can remain healthy, McCaffrey once more enters the year as perhaps the biggest difference maker in fantasy football. Still, given his checkered injury history, Guerendo is one of the league's most important backups to roster.