Chris Rodriguez vs Saquon Barkley: Who Should You Start?
Saquon Barkley and Chris Rodriguez are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Philadelphia Eagles running back averaged 13.4 PPG in 2025, a full 6.4 points per game ahead of Chris Rodriguez's 7.0 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
The per-game difference of 6.4 points favors Saquon Barkley, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Chris Rodriguez ran for 500 yards and 6 touchdowns; Saquon Barkley posted 1140 and 7. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
Chris Rodriguez has his bye in Week 12, and Saquon Barkley rests in Week 5. 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.
