Aaron Jones vs Chris Rodriguez: Who Should You Start?
Aaron Jones and Chris Rodriguez are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 PPG across 12 games with the Minnesota Vikings, while Chris Rodriguez posted 7.0 PPG in 13 appearances for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A 1.7-PPG gap gives Aaron Jones the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Aaron Jones ran for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns; Chris Rodriguez posted 500 and 6. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
Aaron Jones has his bye in Week 6, and Chris Rodriguez rests in Week 12. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
