Who Should I Start? MarShawn Lloyd or Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Tuesday, August 26, 5:11 PM

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) was placed on Injured Reserve on Tuesday and has been designated to return, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. It means that Lloyd can return after missing the first four games of the 2025 campaign. Head coach Matt LaFleur had already said that the oft-injured second-year RB would miss time to start the year due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in the preseason finale last weekend. The 24-year-old cannot seem to shake his hamstring injuries, as he also dealt with the same issue in his rookie season, among other things, and ended up suiting up in just one game. Green Bay has a bye in Week 5, so the earliest Lloyd can return will be in Week 6 on Oct. 12 versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Fantasy managers can avoid him for now in 12-team leagues, while Emanuel Wilson becomes the primary handcuff option for those that draft Josh Jacobs.

Thursday, September 11, 7:06 PM

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a healthy inactive for the second straight week to open the season in 2025 on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. There were rumblings at the end of training camp that Rodriguez could have a significant early-down role alongside rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt after the team traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, but that has not been the case. The 24-year-old RB has opened the year as the No. 4 behind Croskey-Merritt, veteran Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols. JCR has the most upside of any back in Washington's offense as the favorite for most of the early down work, while Ekeler has flex appeal in point-per-reception leagues. At least for another week, Rodriguez belongs on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy formats.