Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Tyler Allgeier

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.

Saturday, September 27, 12:16 PM

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier disappeared from the offense last week, with the Falcons playing from behind the entire game, and the running backs finally giving way to Nathan Carter (hamstring) in the fourth quarter of the 30-0 blowout loss to the Panthers. This week's game should be more competitive, with a relatively low over/under (43.5) and the Falcons as only slight favorites (-2.5). That should give Allgeier a chance to get back on track after recording double-digit carries the first two weeks, and even finding the end zone once. Still, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry will limit his upside, and the 25-year-old is not typically involved in the passing attack (two catches for four yards in '25), so view him as nothing more than a middling RB4 or a speculative Flex play, as well as a handcuff for Bijan Robinson managers.