Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or David Montgomery

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.

Friday, December 5, 1:54 AM

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery had six carries for 60 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown during Thursday's Week 14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He also converted his lone target into a 13-yard reception. The highlight of Montgomery's outing was a 35-yard rushing touchdown that extended Detroit's lead to multiple possessions in the second quarter. Although Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 120 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on Thursday, remains the primary running back in the Lions' offense, Montgomery has been able to maintain a fantasy-relevant role of his own. He has double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in four of his last six games, as well as a touchdown in three of those six. The veteran should continue to be viewed as a high-end RB3/flex heading into Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025.