Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Miles Sanders

Sunday, January 26, 6:46 PM

Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler tallied just 32 all-purpose yards during their loss in the NFC Championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles. Ekeler also lost a fumble. The Commanders were playing from behind throughout most of the contest, putting their rushing attack out of the game plan. However, even when Ekeler was given the ball through the air, he could not perform. He caught five of his seven targets but tallied just 17 yards. His seven targets tied him the second-most on the team, only behind tight end Zach Ertz. Throughout the season, the 29-year-old operated primarily as a change-of-pace option in the Washington backfield. Entering Sunday, Ekeler posted a strong 10.3 yards per catch and a 4.8 yards per carry. Ekeler will likely remain in this role next season as he enters the final year of his contract.

Wednesday, June 11, 9:34 PM

Dallas Cowboys running back Miles Sanders got some more work with the first-team offense on Wednesday at mandatory minicamp, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Nick Harris. So far at minicamp, it's been Sanders and Javonte Williams getting the work with the starting offense. In addition to adding Sanders and Williams in free agency this offseason, the Cowboys took Jaydon Blue (fifth round) and Phil Mafah (seventh round) in this year's NFL draft. A committee situation will most likely develop in 2025 among Sanders, Williams and Blue, making Dallas' backfield pretty ugly for fantasy purposes. Sanders had his first 1,000-yard season in his final season in Philly in 2022 before falling off a cliff with 637 rushing yards, three TDs and 3.5 yards per carry in 2023 and 2024. He's unlikely to see the volume needed for a bounce-back and is ranked as the No. 74 RB at RotoBaller entering 2025.