Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Jerome Ford


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
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Jerome Ford News

Jerome Ford Faces a Camp Battle to Maintain Dynasty Relevance

Saturday, June 20, 11:37 AM

After a quiet final season in Cleveland that saw him run for only 73 yards in 13 games before ending the year on injured reserve, running back Jerome Ford signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the Washington Commanders and could now find himself fighting for a roster spot. While the Commanders' running back room is not bursting with talent, it has become a deep group with a wide variety of skill sets. Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the team with 873 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2025, and the team added pass-catching specialist Rachaad White in free agency before spending a 6th-round pick on Penn State's all-time leading rusher, Kaytron Allen. Ford has shown efficiency as a runner and is an underrated receiver; although he does not excel in any one area, his versatility could be key to earning a role on gamedays. Unfortunately, projecting no higher than the third or fourth running back on a team that will also see a fair share of rushing yards claimed by quarterback Jayden Daniels, the soon-to-be 27-year-old Ford has become a depreciating dynasty asset and a potential drop candidate.


Austin Ekeler vs. Jerome Ford

Still trying to decide between Ekeler and Ford? 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 Jerome Ford is projected to score 0.0 points.