Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Chase Brown

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.

Monday, December 8, 12:59 AM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown handled 12 carries for just 23 yards while adding three receptions (four targets) for 12 yards and another touchdown as a receiver in Sunday's loss in snowy Buffalo. Brown continues his stretch of strong production for fantasy managers, averaging 19.2 PPR points per game over his last six outings. The 25-year-old running back surprisingly had his lowest yards-per-carry mark in a game this season against a Bills defense that allowed 5.2 yards a pop entering the game, the second-worst mark in the league. It comes after three straight games in which the speedy back averaged over five yards per tote. But Brown made up for his lack of efficiency by posting his second two-touchdown game of the season. He will remain a high-end fantasy option in Week 15's divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.