Who Should I Start? Kareem Hunt or Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Saturday, November 15, 4:23 AM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will take on the Denver Broncos in Week 11. Hunt is set to handle the lion's share of the carries out of the backfield with Isiah Pacheco ruled out for Sunday's matchup. Hunt had been splitting the work with Pacheco for much of the season, but Pacheco had begun earning a larger role before going down with a knee injury. Now Hunt will assume a larger workload after being successful in his opportunities at the goal-line and in short-yardage situations. Despite playing in all nine games for the Chiefs this season, Hunt's 294 rushing yards rank 43rd among rushers this season. That low yardage total could be concerning if he didn't score so much, but Hunt ranks 11th in rushing touchdowns with five this year. The veteran back has a great chance to find the endzone every week, but he will have to contend with the stout Denver defense this week. The Broncos defense has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Given his low yardage totals, starting Hunt this week would be betting on him to score a touchdown against one of the best defenses in the league. Hunt is ranked RB33 in our RotoBaller Half-PPR rankings, putting him at the backend of RB3 range this week.

Friday, November 14, 7:40 PM

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (shoulder) is off the injury report and is good to go for Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, Spain. Rodriguez was a full participant in practice every day this week, and he should be in line to lead Washington's backfield in carries on Sunday. The 25-year-old played 17 of the team's 25 snaps, handled six of the 10 running back carries, and ran seven routes on 13 dropbacks in the first half before leaving with the injury. Rodriguez has scored touchdowns in three of the past four weeks and is the much better fit as the short-yardage back for Washington due to his physical running style and ability to fight through contact. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt played only four snaps and had two carries in the first half, but then played the majority of the snaps in the second half with Rodriguez out. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said Rodriguez "has played at a high level" when given the opportunity and has upside in a positive matchup against the Dolphins, who have allowed 4.9 yards per carry and the ninth most PPR points per game to opposing running backs. Rodriguez is a better play in standard and half PPR formats due to his limited receiving upside, checking in as RotoBaller's RB32 in half PPR for Week 11.