Who Should I Start? Chris Rodriguez Jr. or Emari Demercado
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.3 | 36.6 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 0.0 |
Chris Rodriguez Jr. News
Thursday, August 13, 12:26 PM
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is getting plenty of work with the first-team offense. John Oehser noted Thursday that Rodriguez was seeing a lot of reps with the starters and described him as a hard, physical runner. That's another encouraging sign in a backfield that still looks unsettled. Jacksonville's first unofficial depth chart lists Rodriguez and Bhayshul Tuten as co-starters, and the two have been sharing first-team work throughout camp. Rodriguez rushed for 500 yards and six touchdowns on 112 carries for Washington last season, with all six scores coming in the red zone. He's also worked his way back from offseason left foot surgery, making his current workload worth noting. Tuten isn't going away, and LeQuint Allen Jr. remains part of the mix, particularly on passing downs. Still, Rodriguez keeps getting meaningful reps with Trevor Lawrence and the starters. At this point, he's looking like more than just a short-yardage specialist.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 | 16.9 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 5.4 | 0.0 |
Emari Demercado News
Thursday, March 12, 5:58 PM
The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Demercado had over 1,100 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns (three rushing) in his three years with the team, and he'll now join Kenneth Walker III in KC's new-look backfield going into the 2026 season. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of TCU had a career-high 312 rushing yards on 44 carries in 13 games in Arizona in 2025, but he didn't find the end zone on the ground. Demercado added 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in an expanded role after both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries. He never held a big role in Arizona's backfield, but he was productive when he touched the ball, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt on 126 carries. Demercado should have more upside as a stash candidate in deeper fantasy leagues while competing for backup duties with Brashard Smith.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs. Emari Demercado
Still trying to decide between Rodriguez Jr. and Demercado? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Chris Rodriguez Jr. is projected to score 6.3 points this week while Emari Demercado is projected to score 3.6 points.
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