Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Ekeler vs Chris Rodriguez Jr.Who should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Austin Ekeler is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.0 PPG to Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s 7.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Austin Ekeler is the better fantasy play this season.

Austin Ekeler has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.5-PPG advantage is real (9.0 to 7.5), and Austin Ekeler's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Chris Rodriguez Jr. is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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RBWashington Commanders#99PPG LEADER

Austin Ekeler

PPG

9.0

Games

Rush Yds

425

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

360

Bye

Week 14

RBWashington Commanders#43

Chris Rodriguez Jr.

PPG

7.5

Games

Rush Yds

500

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Austin Ekeler

Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Head to Head

9.0 PPG7.5 PPG

14 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Ekeler: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Chris Rodriguez Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #43 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Austin Ekeler is producing at 41% of elite pace and Chris Rodriguez Jr. at 34%. That ranking gap means Chris Rodriguez Jr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Ekeler vs Chris Rodriguez Jr.: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Austin Ekeler (Washington Commanders) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.0 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Washington Commanders) came in at 7.5 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Austin Ekeler carries a 1.5-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Austin Ekeler is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 45 targets into 360 yards, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. profiles as a more traditional rusher with 500 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Austin Ekeler carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Austin Ekeler has his bye in Week 14, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. rests in Week 7. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Austin Ekeler (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Chris Rodriguez Jr. (age 26) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Austin Ekeler outscored Chris Rodriguez Jr. by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Austin Ekeler played 14 games in 2025 compared to Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s 12. That durability gap means Austin Ekeler contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Chris Rodriguez Jr. scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Austin Ekeler caught 45 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Austin Ekeler vs Chris Rodriguez Jr.: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Ekeler	Chris Rodriguez Jr.
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.0	7.5
Games Played	14	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	126	90
Rushing Yards	425	500
Rush Yds/Game	30.4	41.7
Rushing TDs	3	6
Receptions	45	3
Receiving Yards	360	30
Targets	0	4
Total TDs	5	6
Age	-	26
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Austin Ekeler holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.0 points per game. Chris Rodriguez Jr. averaged 7.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Austin Ekeler or Chris Rodriguez Jr. in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Austin Ekeler has the edge at 9.0 PPG compared to Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s 7.5 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Austin Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez Jr. average in 2025?▾

Austin Ekeler averaged 9.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Chris Rodriguez Jr. averaged 7.5 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Austin Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Ekeler (WAS) has a bye in Week 14, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Ekeler or Chris Rodriguez Jr. a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Austin Ekeler outscored Chris Rodriguez Jr. by 1.5 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.