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 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Pos | Player | Age |
1. | ATL | • Bijan Robinson | 21.7 |
2. | NYJ | Breece Hall | 22.4 |
3. | SF | Christian McCaffrey | 27.4 |
4. | JAC | Travis Etienne | 24.7 |
5. | LAC | Austin Ekeler | 28.4 |
6. | SEA | Kenneth Walker | 23.0 |
7. | LV | Josh Jacobs | 25.7 |
8. | IND | Jonathan Taylor | 24.8 |
9. | KC | Isiah Pacheco | 24.6 |
10. | NYG | Saquon Barkley | 26.7 |
11. | PHI | D'Andre Swift | 24.8 |
12. | DAL | Tony Pollard | 26.5 |
13. | MIA | • DeVon Achane | 22.0 |
14. | WAS | Brian Robinson | 24.6 |
15. | NE | Rhamondre Stevenson | 25.7 |
16. | DEN | Javonte Williams | 23.5 |
17. | DET | • Jahmyr Gibbs | 21.6 |
18. | DET | David Montgomery | 26.4 |
19. | LAR | Kyren Williams | 23.1 |
20. | PIT | Najee Harris | 25.6 |
21. | NO | Alvin Kamara | 28.2 |
22. | BUF | James Cook | 24.1 |
23. | CAR | Miles Sanders | 26.5 |
24. | ARI | James Conner | 28.5 |
25. | TEN | Derrick Henry | 29.8 |
26. | GB | Aaron Jones | 28.9 |
27. | MIN | Alexander Mattison | 25.3 |
28. | CIN | Joe Mixon | 27.2 |
29. | TEN | • Tyjae Spears | 22.3 |
30. | IND | Zack Moss | 25.8 |
31. | TB | Rachaad White | 24.8 |
32. | MIA | Raheem Mostert | 31.5 |
33. | CLE | Nick Chubb | 27.8 |
34. | CHI | • Roschon Johnson | 22.7 |
35. | HOU | Dameon Pierce | 23.7 |
36. | CLE | Jerome Ford | 24.1 |
37. | PIT | Jaylen Warren | 25.0 |
38. | SEA | • Zach Charbonnet | 22.8 |
39. | CHI | Khalil Herbert | 25.5 |
40. | ATL | Tyler Allgeier | 23.5 |
41. | JAC | • Tank Bigsby | 22.1 |
42. | SF | Jordan Mason | 24.4 |
43. | CAR | Chuba Hubbard | 24.4 |
44. | HOU | Devin Singletary | 26.1 |
45. | BAL | Gus Edwards | 28.5 |
46. | DEN | • Jaleel McLaughlin | 23.1 |
47. | WAS | • Chris Rodriguez | 23.1 |
48. | BAL | J.K. Dobbins | 24.8 |
49. | PHI | Kenneth Gainwell | 24.6 |
50. | BAL | Justice Hill | 25.9 |
51. | CLE | Kareem Hunt | 28.2 |
52. | GB | AJ Dillon | 25.5 |
53. | DAL | Rico Dowdle | 25.4 |
54. | MIN | Cam Akers | 24.3 |
55. | KC | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | 24.5 |
56. | NO | • Kendre Miller | 21.4 |
57. | ARI | Keontay Ingram | 24.0 |
58. | LV | Zamir White | 24.1 |
59. | SF | Elijah Mitchell | 25.5 |
60. | NYJ | • Israel Abanikanda | 21.0 |
61. | NYJ | Dalvin Cook | 28.2 |
62. | CHI | D'Onta Foreman | 27.5 |
63. | LAC | Joshua Kelley | 25.9 |
64. | LAR | • Zach Evans | 22.4 |
65. | BUF | Latavius Murray | 33.8 |
66. | WAS | Antonio Gibson | 25.3 |
67. | MIA | Salvon Ahmed | 24.8 |
68. | CIN | Trayveon Williams | 26.0 |
69. | LAC | • Elijah Dotson | 24.8 |
70. | MIA | Jeff Wilson | 27.9 |
71. | PHI | Rashaad Penny | 27.7 |
72. | NYG | • Eric Gray | 24.0 |
73. | CLE | Pierre Strong | 24.9 |
74. | CIN | • Chase Brown | 23.6 |
75. | TB | • Sean Tucker | 22.0 |
76. | GB | • Emanuel Wilson | 24.5 |
77. | NO | Jamaal Williams | 28.5 |
78. | BUF | Damien Harris | 26.7 |
79. | DET | Craig Reynolds | 27.3 |
80. | KC | Jerick McKinnon | 31.5 |
—Ian Allan