Fantasy Football Running Back Who Should I Start Decisions: Jadarian Price or Blake Corum? Plus More

Jadarian Price played second fiddle to Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame, but after being a first-round pick, he has led the way in Seattle, carrying the ball 23 times for 104 yards. While he suffered a chest injury last week, he is healthy and ready to go in Week 3.

Price is showing up all over our FantasySP start/sit tool, as fantasy owners try to determine whether he is a top fantasy back or more of a questionable player due to an injury and some competition from another man in the backfield. Let's look at Price and four other running backs who he has been compared to often on the start/sit tool.

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Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders

The competition I mentioned in the opening is from Emanuel Wilson, who has the same 23 carries as Price (with 95 yards). Almost all that work came last week, when Price was hurt, as Wilson carried the ball just twice in the opener. Even though Price didn't go down until the second half, Seattle led essentially the entire time after the break and was able to run the ball often late in the game. Price is likely still the guy who will see the most work out of the backfield.

Washington has allowed the 10th-most yards per rush attempt but the fewest fantasy points to running backs through two weeks. A lot of that comes down to volume, as the Commanders are tied for the fifth-fewest rush attempts against, with just 34 of those attempts coming from RBs. While they held down Javonte Williams last week, Saquon Barkley was able to go for 5.5 yards per carry in the opener.

The Commanders are probably somewhere in the middle as a run defense, and Price should get plenty of looks in a game in which Washington is missing their quarterback and will likely struggle to move the ball; this one could become a blowout, offering Seattle another chance to focus on the ground game late.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos

While Denver has been better against the pass, they have been shredded in the run game, giving up the third-most yards per rush attempt and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to backs. Kenneth Walker started off with 173 yards on 7.5 per attempt in the opener, then Bhayshul Tuten was able to average 5.0 yards per carry last week. I'm looking for more big things from the Los Angeles RBs.

The question is which running back will perform best for the Rams this week. Corum has 22 carries to Kyren Williams' 23, and the former has been better, averaging 6.0 yards per rush to 5.5 for Williams (both very good numbers). They are likely to keep splitting the work, though Williams will probably do more in the passing game; both guys have fantasy intrigue.

Verdict: Start Blake Corum over Jadarian Price. This is a little risky because Price is more likely to handle the bulk of the rushing load, but Corum has a great matchup here, and I look for LA to do more in the running game than the passing game given their opponent's splits so far. Those more worried about opportunity should still lean toward Price.

Travis Etienne, New Orleans Saints vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Etienne has had a rather nondescript start in New Orleans, carrying the ball 17 times for 71 yards and gaining just 39 yards on his nine receptions. It's encouraging that he has touched the ball the most, but Alvin Kamara returned last week after missing the opener and got the rock 14 total times versus just 10 for Etienne (Kendre Miller also got the same nine carries as Etienne in the opener, though the latter did catch seven passes).

Las Vegas is right near the middle in yards per rush attempt allowed while giving up the 12th-fewest fantasy points to running backs. They held down De'Von Achane in Week 1 (36 yards on 11 carries), but the Chargers found a little more success last week, as Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell combined for 118 yards on 28 carries. Vegas is probably somewhere in the middle, not a team to target but also not one to fear in fantasy.

Verdict: Start Jadarian Price over Travis Etienne. It just seems like there's going to be way too much rotation in the New Orleans backfield, and with Kamara returning last week to take more touches, I'm not sure I can trust Etienne in fantasy outside of the deepest leagues.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders vs. Seattle Seahawks

Croskey-Merritt has led the way on the ground for the Commanders, while Rachaad White has been more involved in the passing game; I don't think that surprises anyone. It does limit Croskey-Merritt's upside (especially in PPR), as he won't get that extra work, but there is a chance for him to have successful fantasy weeks, like Week 1's 63 yards and a score on the ground.

This just isn't the matchup to test. I've been railing against Washington players all week because Seattle is just a bear on defense. They have allowed the eighth-fewest yards per rush attempt and the seventh-fewest fantasy points to running backs, and that probably even understates their performance so far. I'm recommending to sit every Commander in fantasy this week.

Verdict: Start Jadarian Price over Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Refer to the above; this one isn't even close.

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Another team, another split backfield. Stevenson was able to dominate the carries in Week 1 with TreVeyon Henderson out, but Henderson returned last week and dominated the carries, outpacing Stevenson 16 to 6. It would make sense for New England to lean into the younger player who has been more explosive over the past two seasons when they've played together, and that could mean limited chances for Stevenson.

The Jags were one of the best run defenses in football last season, and they have been successful again through two weeks, allowing the ninth-fewest yards per rush attempt. They are a little better than average in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs, making this a matchup I'm not too keen on attacking.

Verdict: Start Jadarian Price over Rhamondre Stevenson. This is another one that's pretty straightforward, as Stevenson seems like the lesser half of a rotation and has a tougher matchup this week.