Who Should I Start? Trey Benson or Woody Marks

Friday, September 12, 11:13 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson had eight carries for 69 yards in the Week 1 win over the Saints. He added one catch for six yards. While the 23-year-old didn't find the end zone, he still played well, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. Of course, James Conner was involved, logging 43 snaps, 21 more than Benson. Still, it was apparent that Benson had a place in the offense, even more than some had anticipated. With the Cards coming off a win, the team will look to keep it going in Week 2 versus the Panthers. Without question, Carolina had issues stopping the Jags on the ground, with Travis Etienne ending the day with 143 yards off 16 attempts. Conner should remain the No. 1 option out of the backfield in Sunday's showdown with the Panthers. However, Benson will likely get plenty of work, especially if the game gets out of hand. With a favorable matchup on the horizon, the 2024 No. 66 overall pick can be viewed as a flex option in deeper fantasy formats.

Tuesday, September 16, 10:50 AM

Houston Texans rookie running back Woody Marks carved out a role in Monday night's 20-19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The rookie logged three carries for 14 yards and added a splash play through the air with a 37-yard reception. Notably, Dameon Pierce was a healthy scratch despite being listed as the RB2 on the depth chart. Marks played the second-most snaps (27%) among Houston backs, trailing Nick Chubb (53%) but ahead of Dare Ogunbowale (20%). With Joe Mixon (IR, no timetable) sidelined and Chubb carrying a lengthy injury history of his own, Marks has legitimate handcuff value and should be rostered in deeper formats. If his usage continues to trend upward, Marks could emerge as a meaningful fantasy contributor later in the season, if Mixon doesn't return.