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.

Wednesday, November 12, 1:39 PM

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that running back Tyler Allgeier is "the least talked about superstar on our football team," according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Despite being the backup to another superstar in RB Bijan Robinson, Allgeier has seen double-digit carries five times in 2025, including in the Week 10 loss in Germany to the Indianapolis Colts, when he carried the ball 11 times for 57 yards and two touchdowns. The 25-year-old only has five catches for 20 yards in nine games, but the fact that he continues to be used near the goal line over Robinson is giving him standalone fantasy appeal as an RB3/flex. Robinson only has two rushing touchdowns this year, while Allgeier has six. Allgeier's volume is not consistent, but his nose for the end zone makes him a pretty valuable handcuff option in fantasy.