Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Michael Gallup

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.

Monday, August 25, 6:18 PM

The Washington Commanders released wide receiver Michael Gallup on Monday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Gallup was unable to make Washington's 53-man roster heading into the regular season in his comeback bid after retiring in 2024 shortly after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. The 29-year-old veteran could return to the Commanders on their practice squad, but if he signs with another team for the regular season, he will merely be competing for a spot on the active game-day roster and won't be on the fantasy radar at all. The former third-rounder (81st overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 out of Colorado State caught 34 of 57 targets for 418 yards and only two touchdowns in 17 games (13 starts) in 2023 in his final year in Dallas. Gallup's best season came in Year 2, when he put up a 66-1,107-6 line on 113 targets in 14 games (12 starts).