Chris Rodriguez Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez is a healthy scratch for today’s game vs. the Giants. RBs Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols are active for Washington. McNichols notably plays special teams, while Rodriguez does not. The news makes Croskey-Merritt a safer Week 1 fantasy play. We’re projecting him to lead in early-down snaps, while Ekeler mixes in and dominates passing-down work.

After plenty of trade speculation, the Washington Commanders have traded RB Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Commanders HC Dan Quinn said Thursday that RB Chris Rodriguez will likely be the team's short-yardage and goal-line back with RB Brian Robinson headed out of town. "Chris has that tackle-breaking ability, especially in a small space," Quinn said.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson was held out of Monday night's preseason game amid reports that he'll be traded or released. RB Chris Rodriguez drew the start and played all four snaps on QB Jayden Daniels' lone drive. Rodriguez and RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt worked in a rotation the rest of the first half, with RB Jeremy McNichols handling obvious passing-down snaps. (RB Austin Ekeler did not play.) Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt both ran well. Rodriguez ripped off this 40-yarder on Washington's second offensive snap, finishing with six carries for 62 yards. Croskey-Merritt broke loose for this 27-yard TD and finished with 46 yards on 11 carries.

The Athletic's Ben Standig highlighted RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt as a standout in the team's recent rookie camp. Standig was particularly impressed by Croskey-Merritt's agility and burst, elements that Washington's backfield lacked last year. "If this proves to be real," Standig said of Croskey-Merritt's performance, "this is the element this offense could use. ... If you ask me for a bold prediction, I could see Croskey-Merritt getting into the [RB] rotation."

The Commanders are activating RB Austin Ekeler from IR. He missed the past four games with a concussion but should be ready for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. See where Ekeler lands in our updated Week 18 RB rankings.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. lost a pair of fumbles in Sunday's win over the Eagles. The first came on the team's second possession, and then Robinson logged just 1 touch over Washington's next two drives. After his second fumble -- early in the second quarter -- RB Chris Rodriguez saw his first action on the ensuing drive. Robinson did return again and finished the game as Washington's lead back. He still played 42 snaps to 19 for Jeremy McNichols and 7 for Rodriguez. Robinson logged just 10 carries for 24 yards and a 2-17 receiving line on 3 targets.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. managed just 65 rushing yards in Sunday's win over the Saints, who arrived as one of the league's worst run defenses. Robinson did so on 21 carries (3.1 per rush), controlling 87.5% of the team's RB carries for the game. Robinson added 3 receptions for 22 yards on 3 targets.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson rushed 16 times for 103 yards and 1 score in Sunday's win over Tennessee. A week after suffering an ankle injury, Robinson looked 100% against the Titans.

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He's unlikely to be cleared in time for this weekend's game vs. the Titans. RB Brian Robinson (ankle) got in a limited practice on Wednesday, though, giving him a chance to play on Sunday. We'll keep you updated on this backfield over the next few days. RBs Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez would handle backfield duties if Ekeler and Robinson are out.

The Commanders have ruled RB Brian Robinson Jr. out for Sunday's game against the Steelers with the hamstring injury that also cost him Week 9. Robinson managed limited practices Wednesday and Thursday after putting in limited workouts all last week and carrying a "questionable" tag into the game. But he missed Friday's practice this time around and got ruled out early.

RB Chris Rodriguez matched Austin Ekeler for the team lead with 11 carries in Sunday's win over the Giants. His 52 yards beat Ekeler by 10 to lead the team, and his 4.7 yards per rush led the team. Rodriguez ran third among the group in receiving work, though, getting just 2 routes to Ekeler's 13 and McNichols' 11.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson (hamstring) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Giants. That leaves Washington’s backfield to RBs Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, and Chris Rodriguez. Ekeler played 73% of the offensive snaps when Robinson missed Week 6 and is the best fantasy bet in the backfield.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson (hamstring) is expected to play vs. the Giants today, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Washington elevated RB Chris Rodriguez from the practice squad on Saturday, suggesting at least some concern about Robinson's status. We'll get the Commanders' inactives around 11:30 am ET, but Robinson will carry elevated risk in Week 9 fantasy lineups if he ends up playing.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson (knee) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Ravens. He seemingly suffered a setback trying to play through this knee injury last weekend and didn't practice at all this week. We'll see if he can make it back for Week 7's meeting with the Panthers.

The Commanders placed RB Chris Rodriguez (ankle) on IR, ending his 2023 season. The rookie flashed with a 10-58-2 rushing line last week but remains a long shot for tangible fantasy value in 2024 and beyond. Washington looks set to get RB Brian Robinson back from his hamstring injury for Sunday's game vs. the 49ers.