Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Brian Robinson Jr.

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.

Saturday, October 18, 12:51 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. has maintained a depth role throughout the first six weeks of the 2025 NFL season, and that should remain the case this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Robinson is averaging just 4.5 carries and 0.8 receptions per game with his new team, failing to carve out any significant workload behind Christian McCaffrey. While there's no question that he is a top handcuff who could be a low-end RB1 if McCaffrey were to miss time, for now, he's a non-factor in fantasy football. Managers in deeper leagues should stash him on the bench, and managers in shallow leagues can leave him on waivers.