Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Kendre Miller

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.

Tuesday, October 7, 2:59 PM

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller has seen his snap share increase every game this season, and in Week 5, he was on the field for 26 of the Saints' 66 offensive plays. He saw double-digit carries for the second straight week and out-touched Alvin Kamara on the ground for the first time this year. In a relatively unremarkable waiver week, he becomes a priority add wherever he's still available, but fantasy managers should be leery of his almost non-existent usage in the passing game. He's seen only four targets through five weeks, and in the Saints' first win of the season, some of his increased workload can be explained away by a game script New Orleans is unlikely to repeat with regularity.