Who Should I Start? Zamir White or Brashard Smith

Tuesday, April 29, 4:47 PM

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White will be competing for a roster spot in training camp this summer after the team selected former Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in this year's NFL draft. The Athletic's Tashan Reed has White listed as the current No. 4 behind Jeanty, Raheem Mostert and Sincere McCormick. The Raiders are unlikely to hand the ball to Jeanty almost 27 times per game like Boise State did in 2024, but he will still be the unquestioned workhorse back in Vegas in his rookie season. The veteran and oft-injured Mostert has become strictly a third-down back at this point in his career. The 25-year-old White had a very disappointing season in 2024 as the team's primary back to open the season, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. Unless Jeanty misses time with an injury in his first NFL season, White will be off the fantasy radar.

Wednesday, July 2, 6:32 PM

ESPN's Adam Teicher writes that judging from how rookie seventh-round running back Brashard Smith was used in offseason practices, the Kansas City Chiefs have plans for him. The 22-year-old ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine and could fit in nicely with other offensive skill players on the team, including receivers Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown and running back Elijah Mitchell. Smith was a receiver in college before moving to a RB at SMU in his final season, and the Chiefs got him the ball out of the backfield, from the slot and split out wide during spring workouts. Head coach Andy Reid knows a little something about finding ways to use speedy offensive weapons, so fantasy managers shouldn't complete turn away from Smith, even though it will be hard for him to secure a big role in his first year in the NFL.