I often get the question, “Who’s a running back who’s not playing a lot right now that I should pick up for next year?” I think I might have one of those guys.

Chris Rodriguez. He was a sixth-round pick, and he’s the third-string running back in Washington right now. I think he’s probably available in most leagues. And to me, he looks like a guy who’ll start some games eventually.

I first noticed him in the preseason, when he averaged over 6 yards per carry in every game. He finished with 17 carries for 122 yards, which made him about the overall stat winner among running backs in August.

He’s a bigger, physical, tackle-breaking back, and it occurred to me in the preseason that he’s not that different than Brian Robinson (who’s starting for Washington right now). While he hasn’t played much in the regular season games, they plugged him in for a series on Sunday, and he ran with that same energy, with a couple of physical runs on his way to 23 yards on 4 carries.

To me, he looks like he might at some point develop into another James Conner. (He’s not fast, but he’ll run hard.)

Why they decided to give him a series on Sunday, I’m not sure. Maybe they like the way he’s practicing. Or maybe they have lost some confidence in Robinson (who’s averaged fewer than 3.3 per attempt in three straight games). Regardless, with how they played at Atlanta, I would think they’ll be giving Rodriguez another series this week (at least).

There’s another notable back in Washington, of course: Antonio Gibson. But they might view him as more of a third-down type back now. With what I’ve seen of Rodriguez, I’m thinking it will be him rather than Gibson who’s the next starting running back for the Commanders.

So if we’ve in a dynasty league, I think Rodriguez should be rostered. I’m not sure if he’ll help you much this year, but he might. And I think he’s going to get some run at some point.

I turn my attention to dynasty leagues each Saturday, rotating between the four notable positions. Rankings assume PPR scoring, with teams holding the rights to players indefinitely. With these kind of rankings, I’m considering where I have players ranked right now (for 2022) and thinking about their ages and situations for the next few years. Rookies are tagged with black dots.

To see my most recent rankings for other positions, use the “past issues” navigation both on this page.

Last week: Quarterbacks.

Next week: Wide receivers

DYNASTY RUNNING BACKS
RkPosPlayerAge
1.ATL• Bijan Robinson21.7
2.NYJBreece Hall22.4
3.SFChristian McCaffrey27.4
4.JACTravis Etienne24.7
5.LACAustin Ekeler28.4
6.SEAKenneth Walker23.0
7.LVJosh Jacobs25.7
8.INDJonathan Taylor24.8
9.KCIsiah Pacheco24.6
10.NYGSaquon Barkley26.7
11.PHID'Andre Swift24.8
12.DALTony Pollard26.5
13.MIA• DeVon Achane22.0
14.WASBrian Robinson24.6
15.NERhamondre Stevenson25.7
16.DENJavonte Williams23.5
17.DET• Jahmyr Gibbs21.6
18.DETDavid Montgomery26.4
19.LARKyren Williams23.1
20.PITNajee Harris25.6
21.NOAlvin Kamara28.2
22.BUFJames Cook24.1
23.CARMiles Sanders26.5
24.ARIJames Conner28.5
25.TENDerrick Henry29.8
26.GBAaron Jones28.9
27.MINAlexander Mattison25.3
28.CINJoe Mixon27.2
29.TEN• Tyjae Spears22.3
30.INDZack Moss25.8
31.TBRachaad White24.8
32.MIARaheem Mostert31.5
33.CLENick Chubb27.8
34.CHI• Roschon Johnson22.7
35.HOUDameon Pierce23.7
36.CLEJerome Ford24.1
37.PITJaylen Warren25.0
38.SEA• Zach Charbonnet22.8
39.CHIKhalil Herbert25.5
40.ATLTyler Allgeier23.5
41.JAC• Tank Bigsby22.1
42.SFJordan Mason24.4
43.CARChuba Hubbard24.4
44.HOUDevin Singletary26.1
45.BALGus Edwards28.5
46.DEN• Jaleel McLaughlin23.1
47.WAS• Chris Rodriguez23.1
48.BALJ.K. Dobbins24.8
49.PHIKenneth Gainwell24.6
50.BALJustice Hill25.9
51.CLEKareem Hunt28.2
52.GBAJ Dillon25.5
53.DALRico Dowdle25.4
54.MINCam Akers24.3
55.KCClyde Edwards-Helaire24.5
56.NO• Kendre Miller21.4
57.ARIKeontay Ingram24.0
58.LVZamir White24.1
59.SFElijah Mitchell25.5
60.NYJ• Israel Abanikanda21.0
61.NYJDalvin Cook28.2
62.CHID'Onta Foreman27.5
63.LACJoshua Kelley25.9
64.LAR• Zach Evans22.4
65.BUFLatavius Murray33.8
66.WASAntonio Gibson25.3
67.MIASalvon Ahmed24.8
68.CINTrayveon Williams26.0
69.LAC• Elijah Dotson24.8
70.MIAJeff Wilson27.9
71.PHIRashaad Penny27.7
72.NYG• Eric Gray24.0
73.CLEPierre Strong24.9
74.CIN• Chase Brown23.6
75.TB• Sean Tucker22.0
76.GB• Emanuel Wilson24.5
77.NOJamaal Williams28.5
78.BUFDamien Harris26.7
79.DETCraig Reynolds27.3
80.KCJerick McKinnon31.5

—Ian Allan