Who Should I Start? Tyler Allgeier or Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Saturday, September 20, 11:27 AM

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier rushed 16 times for 76 yards and a touchdown in Week 2's 22-6 victory over the Vikings, the second straight week he's reached double-digit carries, and he even caught one pass for four yards. The 25-year-old tallied double-digit carries five times all last season, so it bodes well for his usage that he was able to reach the double-digit plateau in both a pass-heavy game and a run-heavy game this early in the season. With the Falcons as five-point favorites in Week 3, it sets up as a spot for the team to lean more run than pass, and if Atlanta intends to keep Bijan Robinson fresh, Allgeier should continue to see involvement. The BYU product's best game in 2024 came in Week 6 against Carolina, rushing 18 times for 105 yards and a touchdown, and he added nine rushes for 52 in the Week 18 rematch. The Panther defense hasn't improved, so Allgeier should be viewed as a low-end RB3 or Flex option on Sunday.

Friday, September 19, 11:12 AM

The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala predicts that Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. should get an opportunity to impact the field when his team lines up with the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Rodriguez Jr. was a healthy scratch for the team's first two contests, but Jhabvala credits that more to game-day roster construction than an indication of talent. While an accurate touch share can't be predicted, the 25-year-old figures to work in tandem with both rookie rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veteran Jeremy McNichols. As of now, Croskey-Merritt should be favored for early-down work, with McNichols handling most of the passing situations and Rodriguez Jr. mixing in for both.