Who Should I Start? Tyler Goodson or Jarquez Hunter

Monday, August 25, 8:31 PM

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen mentioned that running back Tyler Goodson (elbow) "would likely be back early in the season." Steichen said last week that Goodson avoided a major elbow injury when he was injured in the Aug. 16 preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. It's a little unclear exactly when the 24-year-old will be ready, though, and he's certainly up in the air to be available for the Week 1 regular season opener on Sunday, Sept. 7, versus the Miami Dolphins. If Goodson is unavailable to suit up in Week 1, the Colts will roll with rookie DJ Giddens as their No. 2 and Khalil Herbert (undisclosed) as the RB3 behind starter Jonathan Taylor. In his second NFL season in 2024, Goodson had 43 touches and averaged 4.8 yards per touch in 16 games for the Colts as RB depth. An injury would need to keep Taylor sidelined for Goodson to be a waiver-wire target in fantasy leagues.

Saturday, August 30, 12:59 PM

Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Jarquez Hunter is likely to open the season behind both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in the team's backfield pecking order. Given how heavily Los Angeles has utilized Williams over the past two seasons, Hunter's RB3 status could mean that he is unlikely to see the field much as a rookie. A fourth-round pick out of Auburn, Hunter led the SEC by averaging 6.4 yards per rush attempt in his final collegiate season. The 22-year-old brings an explosive speed element to the Rams' backfield that Williams and Corum do not. However, Williams and Corum are dependable three-down backs who can make plays inside the tackles, which is a skill set that Rams head coach Sean McVay has typically favored. An injury could change things, but for now, Hunter should be off the radar of fantasy managers in 2025.