Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Ronald Jones

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, September 18, 7:43 PM

The Dallas Cowboys released running back Ronald Jones on Monday, the team announced. Jones was eligible to return to the active 53-man roster on Monday after serving a two-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, but the Cowboys have opted to go in another direction. The 26-year-old will now be hoping to latch on with another organization to provide some backfield depth. Tony Pollard is the team's clear-cut starter, with Rico Dowdle and rookies Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke backing him up in the running back room. Jones shouldn't be rostered in single-year fantasy leagues right now.