Who Should I Start? Eric Gray or Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Friday, August 9, 3:40 AM

Eric Gray showed the New York Giants that their investment in him is starting to pay dividends in Thursday's 14-3 win over the Detroit Lions. The second-year back had a breakout performance, totaling 98 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice. Gray's night was highlighted by a stunning 48-yard touchdown run that had echoes of his college days and reminded fantasy managers why the Giants took a flier on him in the fifth round last year. But it wasn't just the flashy run; Gray also showed versatility by adding 46 receiving yards on top of his 52 rushing yards, making him a dual-threat weapon. His second score, a gritty 1-yard plunge, sealed the victory and might have sealed his spot as a serious fantasy option moving forward. With Devin Singletary as the starter for now, Gray's emerging role could make him a sneaky pickup in deeper leagues, especially if the Giants look to lighten Singletary's workload.

Friday, December 13, 5:30 PM

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. will look to claim the No. 2 role behind Brian Robinson Jr. this weekend but is not a viable option in standard formats facing the New Orleans Saints. In Week 13 with Austin Ekeler (concussion) sitting out, Rodriguez logged seven more carries than the presumed No. 2 option Jeremy McNichols. Rodriguez performed very well, averaging just over 7.0 yards per carry in that contest and even added a late goal-line touchdown. While Rodriguez could see opportunities late in the game if the Commanders have a sizeable lead, fantasy managers should only view the 24-year-old as a high-risk flex option in deep 14-plus-team formats, as Robinson will see most of the work on the afternoon.