Who Should I Start? Trevor Etienne or Kyle Monangai

Wednesday, December 31, 1:09 AM

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Trevor Etienne has had few opportunities to contribute as the team's RB3 behind Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard. Etienne has recorded 20 carries for 94 yards to go along with three catches (three targets) for 13 yards as a receiver in 16 games. The rookie fourth-rounder has played mostly on special teams, returning 31 kicks for an average of 23.6 yards per return, roughly two yards below the league average of 25.9. Etienne saw a brief uptick in touches in Weeks 4-6 with Hubbard banged up. He was efficient in his limited opportunity, handling 14 carries for 72 yards while adding one catch (one target) for seven yards. The 21-year-old remains a worthwhile stash in dynasty leagues, but he likely won't be a big part of the Panthers' offense in Saturday's divisional matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to decide the NFC South.

Friday, February 6, 10:20 AM

A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai entered his rookie season without much fanfare. However, the 23-year-old impressed in his first campaign, recording 947 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games. Monangai showcased impressive efficiency as a rusher, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. As the season progressed, Monangai was able to steal more and more work away from established Bears RB1 D'Andre Swift. Including the postseason, Monangai recorded at least 11 touches in eight out of his final 10 games. From Week 11 through the end of the regular season, neither Monangai nor Swift played more than 59% or fewer than 41% of Chicago's offensive snaps in any contest. In 2026, Swift will be playing on the final season of his current contract. While the two backs project to share backfield work in the short term, Monangai may have done enough as a rookie for the team to feel confident in him as its long-term answer at running back. Monangai's fantasy value in dynasty formats should be on the rise after his encouraging 2025 season.