Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Starts preseason finale
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Rodriguez started Saturday's 30-3 preseason loss to Baltimore and took five carries for 34 yards.
All five carries came on the opening drive, after which Jeremy McNichols came on. Rodriguez played well again, after ripping off a 40-yard gain the week before, but it's perhaps not the best sign for his Week 1 role that he was playing at all (while both Austin Ekeler and Jacory Croskey-Merritt were rested). There's been much speculation about the nature of Washington's likely backfield committee, with Brian Robinson recently traded to San Francisco after averaging 13.4 carries and 1.8 targets across 36.1 snaps in 14 regular-season games last year (958 total yards and eight TDs). Most of the fantasy interest centers on Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt, with Rodriguez potentially playing a spoiler role by handling some of the power running. Coach Dan Quinn was asked Thursday about Rodriguez handling short-yardage work and acknowledged the possibility, although Quinn also cautioned against assuming traditional backfield roles.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Favorite for goal-line work?
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Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Thursday that Rodriguez could be the team's goal-line back, although Quinn also commented that the team won't necessarily have traditional backfield roles, Commanders writer Ben Standig reports.
With Brian Robinson reportedly on the trade block and perhaps even at risk of being released, there's been a lot of recent discussion about what Washington's backfield might look like. Austin Ekeler is the safest bet for snaps and touches, but he's unlikely to handle a huge workload, leaving paths for Rodriguez, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and/or Jeremy McNichols to get involved. Most of the fantasy discussion has centered on Croskey-Merritt this summer, but Rodriguez got the start alongside QB Jayden Daniels in Washington's second preseason game and promptly broke off a 40-yard run on the opening drive. Croskey-Merritt then came on for the second series, while Ekeler was held out and McNichols played later on. A three-way committee between Ekeler, Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt is the most likely outcome for Week 1 against the Giants, regardless of various judgements and opinions on how things might play out from there. Rodriguez is worthy of a fantasy bench spot in most leagues while we wait to see just how things play out in Washington's backfield.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Rips off 40-yard run on second snap
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Rodriguez started Monday's preseason loss to the Bengals and took six carries for 62 yards before exiting the game.
He got all of his carries on the first and third drives, with the highlight being a 40-yard gain on Washington's second snap of the game to set up a Jayden Daniels rushing TD on quarterback's lone drive of the game. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who started over Rodriguez the week before, came in for the second drive and scored a 27-yard TD on his second carry. Croskey-Merritt played until the end of the third quarter, while Rodriguez took his final carry early in the second. The two may be competing for a significant Week 1 role, with multiple recent reports suggesting Brian Robinson is being shopped. The Commanders held both Robinson and Austin Ekeler out Monday, leaving Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols as the top three RBs.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Finishes season with 173 rush yards
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Rodriguez finished the 2024 regular season with 35 carries for 173 yards and two touchdowns and one catch for 12 yards.
The 2023 sixth-round pick spent much of the season on Washington's practice squad and was a healthy scratch for the final two playoff games, but he also had a few chances to handle a significant role when the team was missing either Brian Robinson or Austin Ekeler, both of whom are under contract through 2025. Rodriguez is set to be an exclusive rights free agent, which means he'll likely be back with the Commanders in a depth role at the league-minimum salary for a third-year player. There is some chance Rodriguez gets an opportunity to move up the depth chart, as he's averaged 4.9 yards on 86 career carries after a prolific college career at Kentucky.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Scores touchdown in win
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Rodriguez rushed five times for 16 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-24 win over the Falcons. He added one catch on his lone target for 12 yards.
Rodriguez played 18 of the Commanders' 83 offensive snaps Sunday, his highest offensive snap total since Week 13. The 24-year-old's touchdown was his second trip to the end zone this season. With that said, Rodriguez has not seen consistent usage in his eight appearances, making him difficult to trust for fantasy purposes heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Cowboys.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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The Commanders are expected to play their starters in Week 18 at Dallas, but it might not be for the entire game. That could allow Rodriguez some additional touches if Brian Robinson Jr. is out, and Rodriguez looked good in Week 17 against Atlanta with five carries for 16 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 12 yards on one target. The Cowboys have allowed five running backs to score at least 13 PPR points in their past five games, so Rodriguez could be a potential flex option in deeper leagues.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Quiet in limited role
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Rodriguez carried once for two yards in Sunday's 20-19 win over the Saints.
Rodriguez played just three of the Commanders' 78 offensive snaps Sunday, far behind both Brian Robinson (58) and Jeremy McNichols (22). In six appearances during the 2024 campaign, the second-year running back has totaled just 27 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown. Rodriguez would likely need injuries to either Robinson or McNichols to gain more fantasy relevance down the stretch. With limited opportunities, the Kentucky product can be ignored for fantasy purposes going forward. The Commanders host the Eagles in Week 16.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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I still view Rodriguez as the No. 3 running back in Washington behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Jeremy McNichols while Austin Ekeler (concussion) is out, but Rodriguez just continues to produce every time he gets an extended look. That happened again in Week 13 against Tennessee when he had 13 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown when he did most of his damage when the game was out of reach. That said, Washington could have bigger plans for him after the Week 14 bye, and Rodriguez is a good stash candidate for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Paces Commanders in rushing yards
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Rodriguez rushed the ball 11 times for 52 yards in Sunday's 27-22 win over the Giants.
Rodriguez was elevated from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's game to account for the absence of Brian Robinson (hamstring). He tied for the team lead in rushing attempts and was surprisingly more effective than both Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols. This marked Rodrguez's third active game this season, though he had exclusively played on special teams on the first two occasions.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Elevated for Week 9
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The Commanders elevated Rodriguez from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
It's the third and final time this season that Washington can elevate Rodriguez from the practice squad. He'll give the Commanders depth at running back in case Brian Robinson (hamstring) is unable to play Sunday against the Giants.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Elevated off practice squad
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The Commanders elevated Rodriguez from their practice squad to their active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's Week 6 clash with Baltimore.
Rodriguez was previously elevated ahead of Washington's Week 4 game against Arizona, but he didn't get any offensive snaps in the contest (though he did log six snaps on special teams). His elevation ahead of Week 6 comes as a result of starting tailback Brian Robinson being ruled out for the game due to a knee injury. Rodriguez could thus get some work against the Ravens on Sunday, though he's still behind Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols on the depth chart.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Joins active roster
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The Commanders elevated Rodriguez to their active roster Saturday.
Rodriguez's elevation ensures depth at running back due to Austin Ekeler (concussion) already being ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Cardinals. Expect the second-year pro to play behind both Brian Robinson and Jeremy McNichols in Week 4.
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Chris Rodriguez: Sticks around on practice squad
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The Commanders signed Rodriguez to the practice squad Wednesday.
The 2023 sixth-round pick appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Commanders in his rookie year, and over the last five games, Rodriguez turned 37 carries into 186 yards and two touchdowns while adding two catches for 12 yards. Despite that production, Rodriguez lost out to Jeremy McNichols for the No. 3 running back job behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. Rodriguez will stick around with Washington on the practice squad, and he should be elevated to the active roster if Robinson, Ekeler or McNichols are unable to play.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Likely RB3 for Washington
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With the Commanders not selecting a running back in last month's draft, Rodriguez profiles as the team's No. 3 option at running back behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson,Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Per Standig, Rodriguez, who's presumably past his late-season ankle issue, appears to be the clear early-down backup to Robinson. However, with Ekeler also in the mix and destined to see plenty of touches, notably in passing situations, Rodriguez doesn't initially have a path to steady volume as the 2024 season approaches. As a rookie, the 2023 sixth-rounder recorded 51 carries for 247 yards and two TDs to go along with two catches for 12 yards in 13 regular-season contests. Also currently in the Commanders' depth RB mix are Jeremy McNichols, Austin Jones and Michael Wiley (thumb).
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Not practicing
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Rodriguez (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.
While Brian Robinson (hamstring) was sidelined for a second game in a row in this past Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Jets, Rodriguez ran for 57 yards and two touchdowns before exiting after suffering an injury of his own. The rookie sported a walking boot after the game and was scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday, making his absence from practice Wednesday the furthest thing from a surprise. Robinson, meanwhile, returned to practice as a limited participant, potentially setting the stage for him to rejoin Antonio Gibson in the backfield as quarterback Jacoby Brissett prepares for his first start of the season.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Requires MRI
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Rodriguez (ankle) will undergo an MRI on Tuesday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
According to John Keim of ESPN.com, Rodriguez was spotted with his right foot in a walking boot following Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Jets, so it's not especially surprising that he'll need an MRI to determine the extent of his injury. With top back Brian Robinson (hamstring) sidelined for the second game in a row Sunday, Rodriguez once again handled an expanded role, getting 10 carries for 58 yards and two touchdowns while adding one catch for seven yards over 22 offensive snaps. With the statuses of Robinson and Rodriguez both in flux for the team's Week 17 matchup with the 49ers, the Commanders are left with Antonio Gibson and Derrick Gore as their lone healthy backs at the moment.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Dealing with ankle injury
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Rodriguez suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's win over the Jets, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Rodriguez was spotted in a walking boot after the win, but the exact nature of his injury remains unclear. Jhabvala reports that Rodriguez "rolled his ankle" against New York. Given all of the injuries in its backfield, Washington signed Jaret Patterson to the practice squad Tuesday.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Spotted in walking boot
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Rodriguez was spotted with a boot on his right foot following Sunday's victory over the Jets, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Rodriguez had easily his best game as a professional in Week 16, totaling 65 yards and two scores, but it appears he injured his foot somewhere along the way. Further details were not immediately available, but Rodriguez's status will be updated again when more information is released.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Will get more opportunities
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Coach Ron Rivera said Friday that Rodriguez will get more opportunities out of the backfield with Brian Robinson (hamstring) ruled out for Sunday's game against the Rams, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Robinson left Week 13's game against the Dolphins early with the injury, and Rodriguez handled seven carries following his departure. Antonio Gibson still paced the team with 10 rushing attempts, and four of Rodriguez's seven carries came on Washington's final four snaps of a blowout loss. While Rodriguez figures to take at least some of the work that normally goes to Robinson, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly what the split between Gibson and the rookie will look like.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Helps fill in for injured Robinson
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Rodriguez took seven carries for 29 yards in a 45-15 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Rodriguez played a career-high 22 percent of Washington's snaps on offense, getting some extra work due to Brian Robinson missing the second half with a hamstring injury. It still didn't amount to much until garbage time -- he got four of his carries on Washington's final four snaps -- but there will be an opportunity for role expansion ahead if Robinson isn't ready after a Week 14 bye. The Commanders have a road game against the Rams in Week 15, and they might give Rodriguez more of a look down the stretch even if Robinson ends up being fine to play post-bye.
