Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Bhayshul Tuten

Monday, September 22, 12:34 PM

Although Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. wasn't all that efficient (3.5 yards per carry) in his 2025 debut in the team's 41-24 blowout win over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, he did lead the team with 11 carries. Rodriguez was a healthy scratch the first two weeks, but he was elevated to the active roster for Week 3 after Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles in Week 2. The 24-year-old ran for 39 yards on his 11 carries and was not utilized in the passing game. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt was second on the team with eight carries, and he, too, was inefficient with just 26 yards on the ground. Jeremy McNichols and quarterback Marcus Mariota combined for 10 rushing attempts and two touchdowns against the Raiders. Croskey-Merritt has the most upside in the Commanders' backfield moving forward with Ekeler done for the year, but Rodriguez is worth a waiver-wire pickup if you have JCM rostered or are looking for RB depth. Rodriguez is currently rostered in only 5% of Yahoo leagues.

Tuesday, November 11, 12:46 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten had a season-high nine carries for 29 yards and scored his third touchdown of the year in the Week 9 overtime win over the Las Vegas Raiders. However, Tuten was unable to build on that performance in the Week 10 loss to the Houston Texans, carrying the ball just four times for five yards while catching one of his two targets for five additional yards. The 23-year-old played a season-high 27% of the offensive snaps, but fellow rookie LeQuint Allen Jr. saw a season-high 32% of the snaps as well. Travis Etienne Jr. remains the Jags' clear top back in Jacksonville, even though Tuten has teased fantasy managers in his rookie season with explosiveness and power out of the backfield. Tuten has fantasy value as a handcuff to Etienne, but he'll continue to be hard to trust as a touchdown-dependent RB4 heading into a Week 11 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers.