Who Should I Start? Xazavian Valladay or Emari Demercado

Saturday, August 24, 11:25 PM

New York Jets running back Xazavian Valladay soaked up plenty of reps in Saturday night's preseason win over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, rushing a team-high 14 times for 28 yards and collecting six of his eight targets for a team-leading 62 yards. Valladay hauled in plenty of checkdowns on Saturday against the Giants, totaling 90 yards on a substantial 20 touches. It was more or less window dressing for the 25-year-old Arizona State product, who is unlikely to be a part of New York's 53-man roster when the regular season begins in what has become a loaded Jets RB room.

Saturday, August 17, 11:31 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado got a good amount of work in the Cardinals' second preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Demercado led the running backs with 10 carries but for a paltry 24 yards. He also added one catch on his lone target for nine yards. The battle for the RB3 spot likely comes down to Demercado and Michael Carter, as the two traded third-down snaps with Demercado taking a slight 4-to-3 edge. Carter did take 4-of-5 two-minute drill snaps, however, per PFF's Nathan Jahnke. Demercado should go undrafted in fantasy drafts, but he was solidly useful for a spell last season when he was the lead back with James Conner hurt. With Conner and rookie Trey Benson in tow, Demercado becomes depth running back for Arizona who needs multiple injuries to be relevant in fantasy for 2024.