Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Jaylen Wright


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Austin Ekeler News

Austin Ekeler 100 Percent Medically Cleared for Football Activities

Thursday, April 30, 9:22 AM

Veteran free-agent running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) is 100% fully medically cleared for all football activities after suffering a torn right Achilles last September against the Green Bay Packers, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Ekeler intends to play in 2026 and is expected to draw plenty of interest. The 30-year-old was one of the premier pass-catching backs in the NFL in his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers before he signed a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 season. He appeared in 12 games (six starts) for Washington in 2024, carrying the ball 77 times for 367 yards and four touchdowns while catching 35 passes for 366 receiving yards. Ekeler missed some time due to a concussion that year before playing in just two games in 2025 before tearing his Achilles. Ekeler might not be the same shifty back in space after his season-ending injury, but he could still give a team some solid pass-catching depth out of the backfield as he nears the end of his career.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
3.1 16.7 0.1 0.5 3.7 0.0

Jaylen Wright News

Jaylen Wright Is an Insurance Pick, Not a Standalone Sleeper

Wednesday, August 5, 11:18 AM

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright has moved into a clearer spot than he occupied a year ago. The team's current depth chart lists him behind De'Von Achane and ahead of Ollie Gordon II, and Wright gave Miami its best look at what he can do with volume when he ran 24 times for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Jets in Week 14. That is the appeal. The weekly role is still hard to find. Achane totaled 1,838 yards from scrimmage last season and is signed through 2030, while Gordon handled 18 red-zone carries and scored four times as a rookie. Wright also caught only five passes in 10 games, so there is not much of a receiving floor. He remains the more interesting backup because he is 23, averaged 4.1 yards per carry last season, and sits second on the depth chart. His current ADP of 211th overall and RB69 makes the gamble painless. Wright is worth a final pick as Achane insurance, especially for managers who draft Miami's starter. Without an injury ahead of him, though, he is unlikely to offer enough touches to become a weekly redraft option.


Austin Ekeler vs. Jaylen Wright

Still trying to decide between Ekeler and Wright? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Austin Ekeler is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Jaylen Wright is projected to score 3.1 points.