Ashton Jeanty vs Chris Rodriguez: Who Should You Start?
Ashton Jeanty and Chris Rodriguez are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Ashton Jeanty averaged 12.8 PPG across 17 games with the Las Vegas Raiders, while Chris Rodriguez posted 7.0 PPG in 13 appearances for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A 5.8-PPG gap gives Ashton Jeanty 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.
Ashton Jeanty is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 55 targets into 346 yards, while Chris Rodriguez profiles as a more traditional rusher with 500 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Ashton Jeanty carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
Ashton Jeanty has his bye in Week 10, 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.
