Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or De'Von Achane

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, November 14, 9:53 PM

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane continues to be an elite performer regardless of matchup or his team's offensive struggles. Last week, he tore up the Bills for 174 rushing yards on 22 carries and added six catches for 51 more yards. He had a pair of rushing touchdowns, giving him nine scores in his 10 games this season. He's averaged 78.0 rushing yards and 32.5 receiving yards per game, and his heavy involvement as a receiver out of the backfield and home run potential on every touch make him a must-start option in all formats. The Commanders are a top-10 matchup for running backs, and in his smash spot in Spain on Sunday morning, Achane is the No. 2 RB in RotoBaller's Week 11 rankings.