Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Kyren Williams

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.

Sunday, November 2, 10:32 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams wasn't involved in the passing game at all on Sunday, but he was efficient on the ground in the team's 34-10 victory over the visiting New Orleans Saints in Week 9. Williams had some nice volume in this one, handling a season-high 25 carries for a season-high 113 rushing yards and his third rushing touchdown of the year. It was the 25-year-old's first 100-yard rushing game in 2025. Williams hasn't been all that explosive on the ground for the Rams this year, but it was nice to finally see him top the century mark in a plus matchup with a positive game script all day. The former fifth-rounder has been more of an RB2 for fantasy managers this year in a Rams offense that prefers to air it out with the arm of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Still, Williams should be considered a must-start in a big Week 10 divisional contest next Sunday versus a banged-up San Francisco 49ers defense.