Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Isaiah Spiller

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, April 25, 5:42 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders waived running back Isaiah Spiller, wide receiver Ramel Keyton, cornerback M.J. Devonshire, defensive tackle Tyler Manoa and linebackers Kana'i Mauga and Jackson Mitchell before the start of Round 2 of the 2025 NFL draft on Friday. Spiller, the former fourth-rounder by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022 out of Texas A&M, is by far the biggest name on this list of cuts for the Raiders. The 23-year-old didn't see the field at all in 2024 and will now hit the open market after the Raiders pulled the trigger and took Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall in the first round on Thursday evening. In his two seasons with the Chargers in 2022 and 2023, Spiller had only 55 rushing attempts for 137 yards (2.5 yards per carry) and no touchdowns. He added nine receptions for 47 yards through the air. Spiller will now look to latch on with another team as RB depth.