Start Samaje Perine over Dylan Sampson — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Start Perine — the game script and projection edges are too wide to ignore.

Samaje Perine plays in the better game script (27.0 implied team points to 16.5) and projects 5.9 to Sampson's 5.0. No signal favors Sampson this week. The gap is comfortable.

Dylan Sampson

RB51CLEvs JAX

3.34.15.0 Projected Points

Sit

Samaje Perine

RB51CINvs TB

4.85.45.9 Projected Points

Toss-Up

Why Dylan Sampson

Sit

RB2 and change-of-pace back. Explosive receiving weapon out of the backfield on passing downs.

Sit — RB51 consensus, projects RB53 this week: JAX is the 9th-toughest matchup vs RBs, 16.5 implied team total caps the ceiling.

JAX ranks 9 of 32 against RBs (one of the tougher matchups, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 16.5 team points as 7.5-point underdogs.
Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 27% snap share in 2025.

Why Samaje Perine

Toss-Up

Veteran backup RB and kick returner. Reliable pass protector and third-down receiving option.

Toss-up — RB51 consensus, projects RB52 this week: 27.0 implied team total, 4% target share in 2025.

TB ranks 13 of 32 against RBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 27.0 team points as 3.5-point favorites.
Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 35% snap share in 2025.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Dylan Sampson	Samaje Perine
Projected points	3.34.15.0	4.85.45.9
Consensus rank	RB51	RB51
Opponent vs position	JAX · 9 of 320-game sample	TB · 13 of 320-game sample
Rushing Yards	1 of 32	6 of 32
Rushing TDs	4 of 32	10 of 32
Rushing Attempts	1 of 32	2 of 32
Receptions	24 of 32	20 of 32
Receiving Yards	21 of 32	32 of 32
Anytime TD	4 of 32	9 of 32
Target share	9%(2025)	4%(2025)
Reception share	12%(2025)	5%(2025)
Implied total · spread	16.5+7.5	27.0-3.5
Depth chart	RB2	RB2
Snap share	27%(2025)	35%(2025)