Rodriguez will compete for playing time in the Jaguars' backfield this preseason after reuniting with his college coach, Liam Coen. Expect him to be a Round 9 or 10 pick as good bench depth with some upside. Considering his competition is really only speedy second-year back Bhayshul Tuten, there is a pathway for Rodriguez to have a functional Fantasy role, which is a little strange to suggest since he was inactive for three games in Washington last season, had 10 or fewer carries in seven other outings, and was unceremoniously dumped by the RB-needy Commanders this offseason. Over three seasons, he has one career game with more than 79 rush yards (none over 100) and just three games with at least 14 total touches. He also has six career receptions. But the Rodriguez Coen remembers had over 1,300 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns (including three receiving) at Kentucky in 2021. It's entirely possible that Rodriguez rips away at least half of the rushing downs work for the Jaguars this year and offers weekly TD-or-bust opportunity for Fantasy managers.
Jaguars' Chris Rodriguez: Deemed co-starter on unofficial depth chart
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Bhayshul Tuten and Rodriguez are listed as co-starters on the Jaguars' initial unofficial depth chart, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports.
While preseason depth charts posted by NFL teams tend to be unreliable as projections for Week 1, this listing isn't unexpected. The Jaguars seem to be trending toward employing a committee approach to fill the void created by the offseason departure of Travis Etienne, with LeQuint Allen potentially mixing in on third downs as well. In that context, Rodriguez could see enough touches out of the gate this season to merit fantasy consideration.
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Jaguars' Chris Rodriguez: Active practice Thursday
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Rodriguez had his most active practice of training camp thus far Thursday, according to John Shipley of SI.com.
Per Shipley, where Rodriguez, who took several carries in team drills, stood out the most Thursday was when the Jaguars ran plays backed up at their own 1-yard line, a scenario in which all of Rodriguez's carries went for positive yards during the session. Shipley adds that the free-agent addition, who profiles as a power back, could carve out a key role when it comes to goal-line carries, an area that fellow RB Bhayshul Tuten made his mark in last season. In any case, looking ahead to Week 1, a committee approach featuring Tuten and Rodriguez seems a likely outcome, with LeQuint Allen also in the mix to handle complementary backfield touches.
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Jaguars' Chris Rodriguez: Works in team drills again
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Rodriguez (foot) worked in team drills for a second consecutive day during Monday's padded practice, John Oehser and John Shipley of the Jaguars' official site report.
Rodriguez, who is bouncing back from an offseason left foot procedure, had worked only in individual drills during training camp's first three practices, but he's been able to upgrade his participation level since then, and in the process he had several long runs during Monday's session. As the summer progresses, Rodriguez and Bhayshul Tuten are in line to compete for the Jaguars' RB1 job following Travis Etienne's free-agent departure. While Tuten had the advantage of getting a head start due to Rodriguez's injury, the team's backfield pecking order has yet to be solidified ahead of Week 1, with a committee approach featuring Tuten and Rodriguez a likely outcome, and LeQuint Allen also a candidate to mix in.
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Jaguars' Chris Rodriguez: Being eased in
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Rodriguez (foot) has been cleared to practice, but the Jaguars intend to take a cautious approach with the running back's participation level early in training camp, John Shipley of SI.com reports.
"It's a long training camp," head coach Liam Coen said. "It's a long season. We're trying to get (Rodriguez) back, without any sort of hiccups or bumps." Bhayshul Tuten is getting an early opportunity to build rapport with the first-team offense for the Jaguars, who let Travis Etienne walk in free agency and added Rodriguez in the offseason. Rodriguez's regular-season availability isn't in question at the moment, but it may take a while for him to ramp up to full participation in training camp.
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Jaguars' Chris Rodriguez: On field at training camp
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Rodriguez (foot) is participating in Wednesday's training camp practice, J.P. Shadrick of the Jaguars' official site reports.
Rodriguez handled only individual work Wednesday, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports, but the new Jacksonville running back has been cleared and will be ready for full-team drills after a ramp-up period. He missed OTAs and mandatory minicamp due to an offseason foot procedure. Once ready to take part in full-team reps, Rodriguez will compete for backfield touches alongside Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen.
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Jaguars' Chris Rodriguez: Projected as lead back
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Sports Illustrated's John Shipley projects Rodriguez to open the season as the Jaguars' lead running back.
"Though I am not sure there will be enough of a difference between [Rodriguez's] workload and Bhayshul Tuten's worth talking about," Shipley wrote Thursday. After Travis Etienne left for the Saints in free agency, Jacksonville signed Rodriguez to a two-year, $10 million deal. Rodriguez played for coach Liam Coen in college at Kentucky, and the Jaguars have pointed out how they like Rodriguez's ability to earn the tough yards after contact after he finished eighth out of 58 qualifying running backs in yards after contact per attempt (3.46) last season. The coaching staff certainly has an affinity for Rodriguez, and Tuten is going to have to show more than he did as a rookie (3.7 yards per carry) to earn more playing time.
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Jaguars' Chris Rodriguez: Signing with Jacksonville
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Rodriguez is signing a two-year contract with the Jaguars, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.
The Commanders decided not to give Rodriguez a restricted-free-agent tender, and the Jaguars pounced on an opportunity to add some power to their backfield. With Travis Etienne off to New Orleans, the Jags currently have Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen as favorites for the top three spots on the depth chart. They could still add more via free agency or the NFL Draft, but right now it looks like a good spot for Rodriguez to earn playing time in a promising offense.
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Chris Rodriguez: Doesn't get RFA tender
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Rodriguez is an unrestricted free agent after the Commanders opted against tendering him, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.
A restricted free agent tender would've cost at least $3.5 million, so the Commanders may still try to re-sign Rodriguez at a lower cost. He's proven competent as a power runner but without much hint of the pass-game skills that would allow him to handle larger snap counts.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Inactive Thursday
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Rodriguez (illness) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.
Rodriguez was added to the Commanders' injury report Thursday morning due to an illness, and now that he's been deemed inactive, look for Jacory Croskey-Merritt to lead a Week 17 backfield that also includes Jeremy McNichols and Chase Edmonds. Rodriguez thus will target a return to action in his team's season finale Week 18 against the Eagles.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Questionable with illness
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Rodriguez (illness) has been added to Washington's injury report and is officially questionable for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.
Rodriguez is a late addition to the Commanders' injury report and may simply have woken up ill Thursday morning. The third-year pro has logged four consecutive appearances with at least double-digit carries and scored twice in that span while working in a backfield split with Jacory Croskey-Merritt. As such, Croskey-Merritt would stand to benefit from an increased workload if Rodriguez can't go Thursday, while Jeremy McNichols and Chase Edmonds would be candidates to handle increased change-of-pace roles. Official word on Rodriguez's status will arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to Thursday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Week 17 Waiver Priority List
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Rodriguez missed Week 15 at the Giants with a groin injury, but he played in Week 16 against the Eagles and had 15 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown, and one catch for 6 yards on one target. He led the Commanders in playing time ahead of Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols, and Rodriguez would be worth using as a flex option against Dallas in Week 17, especially if Quinnen Williams (concussion) remains out for the Cowboys. If Williams is active, then I'd be hesitant to trust Rodriguez, but he does have a touchdown in four of his past six games.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Pads stats in garbage time
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Rodriguez rushed the ball 15 times for 63 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles. He added one reception on one target for six yards.
Rodriguez returned from a one-game absence and tied his season high with both 15 carries and 16 touches. He worked in a relatively even split with Jacory Croskey-Merritt for much of the game, though Rodriguez was able to pad his stats in garbage time. Rodriguez recorded four rushing attempts and accounted for 38 yards and his touchdown on Washington's final possession with the team down three scores. The backfield remains fairly ambiguous heading into a Week 17 matchup against the Cowboys, though both Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt should retain significant roles.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Sleeper RBs
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Rodriguez should be considered a flex option in Week 15 with his matchup against the Giants, who are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. The Giants have allowed eight running backs to score at least 11 PPR points in their past six games, with seven touchdowns. And the touchdowns matter here for Rodriguez, who has four rushing touchdowns in his past seven games. He's not going to do much in the passing game -- he has one catch for 6 yards on two targets this season -- so he'll need a big yardage game or getting into the end zone. And given the matchup, I'll take the chance on Rodriguez this week in deeper leagues.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Hurt by game script in Week 14
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Rodriguez gained 52 rushing yards on 10 carries in Sunday's 31-0 loss to the Vikings.
As the game got away from the Commanders the rushing attack became less of a factor, hurting Rodriguez's volume despite his healthy 5.2 yards per carry. The third-year back also failed to get into the end zone for only the second time in the last seven games. Jayden Daniels' return from an elbow injury only lasted a little over three quarters Sunday, but Rodriguez has found ways to be productive with Marcus Mariota under center as well, and he might be able to exploit a soft Week 15 matchup against the Giants.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Sleeper RBs
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Rodriguez will likely need a touchdown to boost his Fantasy value since he has one catch for 6 yards on two targets for the season. But he's scored a touchdown in three of his past four games, and the Vikings have allowed at least one rushing touchdown to a running back in six games in a row. Rodriguez also has at least 11 carries in three of his past four games, and he's become the primary running back for the Commanders ahead of Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols. But we need Rodriguez to find the end zone to be a quality flex option, so hopefully, he gets another chance to score for Washington in this game.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Rodriguez will likely need a touchdown to boost his Fantasy value since he has one catch for 6 yards on two targets for the season. But he's scored a touchdown in three of his past four games, and the Vikings have allowed at least one rushing touchdown to a running back in six games in a row. Rodriguez also has at least 11 carries in three of his past four games, and he's become the primary running back for the Commanders ahead of Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols. But we need Rodriguez to find the end zone to be a quality flex option, so hopefully he gets another chance to score for Washington in this game.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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Rodriguez scored a touchdown in Week 13 against Denver, and he finished with 11 carries for 41 yards and no catches on one target. He now has a touchdown in three of his past four games, and he has led Washington in carries in his past two outings against the Dolphins and Broncos. He's worth using as a flex option in all leagues in Week 14 at Minnesota, but then he faces the Giants in Week 15, which is a great matchup. Jayden Daniels (elbow) could return soon, which should be a boost for Washington's offense, and Rodriguez is worth adding in all leagues for at least 10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: RBs to Sit
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Rodriguez should be added in all leagues since he looks like the No. 1 running back for Washington heading into Week 13 against Denver. But that doesn't mean you have to start Rodriguez in the majority of leagues. The Broncos are No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Denver should be able to contain Rodriguez in this matchup. Prior to Washington's bye in Week 12, Rodriguez had a touchdown in two of his past three games and had 15 carries for 79 yards and one catch for 6 yards on one target in Week 11 at Miami. He offers little in the passing game -- his reception against the Dolphins was his first of the season -- so if he doesn't score, then his Fantasy production will be minimal. And the Broncos have allowed just six rushing touchdowns to running backs this year.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Dealing with illness
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Rodriguez missed Wednesday's practice with an illness.
Rodriguez likely will have time to recover before Sunday's game against Denver. Workload uncertainty is the greater concern for fantasy, with Jeremy McNichols presumably still handling passing downs and Jacory Croskey-Merritt a threat for carries. Rodriguez replaced Croskey-Merritt as the lead runner in Washington's past two games, but the latter still has had a significant role off the bench.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Week 13 Adds (RB Preview)
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While Neal is only startable in full PPR, Rodriguez is only a good flex in non-PPR. In the Commanders' most recent game he had 15 carries for 79 yards and he has scored a rushing touchdown in three of his last five games. If he holds on to this role he could be a great start in the first round of the Fantasy playoffs against the Giants.
