Tag: chris rodriguez

Fantasy Football: 12 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Christian McCaffrey is hurt again, making Isaac Guerendo a must-add on the fantasy football waiver wire. These are the top RBs to target.

Here we go again.

Christian McCaffrey suffered a knee injury on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 and the San Francisco 49ers announced Monday that he has a PCL injury. McCaffrey will now go on injured reserve and he’s expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

That would have left Jordan Mason as the next man up in San Francisco, but he has a high ankle sprain that will also land him on injured reserve. Mason will now miss at least the next four games.

Following the injuries to both McCaffrey and Mason, Isaac Guerendo is a top priority must-add on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Elsewhere on the fantasy front, Russell Wilson (43.1%) is gaining steam at quarterback, Adam Thielen (27.3%) is relevant at wide receiver again, and Will Dissly (32.9%) has a good tight end matchup against KC this week.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 14.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Isaac Guerendo (1.3%): With McCaffrey and Mason both sidelined, it should be the Guerendo show down the stretch in San Francisco.

2. RB Chris Rodriguez (0.2%): The Commanders placed Austin Ekeler on injured reserve with a concussion, leaving Brian Robinson as their top RB. Robinson is not alone in the backfield, however, as Rodriguez had a big day on Sunday with 94 rushing yards and a touchdown. If Washington continues splitting RB touches, Rodriguez could be a gem off the waiver wire.

3. RB Kimani Vidal (10.7%): J.K. Dobbins (knee) was ruled out and then placed on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the next four games. Gus Edwards seems to be the new RB1 for the Chargers, but Vidal was right behind him in carries on Sunday (six to four). He’s a sleeper.

4. RB Alexander Mattison (47.0%): Mattison and Zamir White were both sidelined on Sunday, leaving Ameer Abdullah and Sincere McCormick (0.1%) as the Raiders’ top RBs in Week 13. Mattison is worth picking up for once he returns. If Mattison and White remain sidelined, McCormick will be worth a look in deep leagues.

5. RB Tank Bigsby (32.5%): Coming out of the bye week, Travis Etienne led the Jaguars’ backfield with 13 carries for 46 yards, but Bigsby also got seven carries plus one target. Up next is a Titans defense that allows 120.1 rushing yards per game.

6-12. Handcuff running backs: Jonathon Brooks (47.6%), Tyler Allgeier (41.5%), Zach Charbonnet (50.9%), Blake Corum (14.2%), Ray Davis (11.4%), Trey Benson (24.1%) and Braelon Allen (22.0%).

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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What everyone said after the Commanders’ Week 13 rout of the Titans

A collection of postgame quotes from the Commanders’ Week 13 win.

The Commanders scored the game’s first 28 points on their way to their 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium Sunday. The win broke Washington’s three-game losing streak.

Here is a collection of postgame quotes from players, analysts, coaches, and media personalities.

Logan Paulsen

“This is how the Dallas game should have gone…you capitalize on the mistakes they make. Not just settle for field goals but actively go down and score with well-designed touchdown type plays and that is fantastic…they were so much more urgent and that was really nice to see. This felt like the team we were used to watching earlier in the year.”

Craig Hoffman (Team 980)

“Marshon Lattimore should be back after the bye, which then adds talk about a team feeling like they have a little confidence, feels like they have wind in their sails in the right direction. That’s got to be a huge boost for them emotionally coming out of the bye.”

Chris Russell (Team 980)

“I guess that dumb “Kliff Cliff” thing can be put to rest by all the analytics amigos after today??”

Grant Paulsen (106.7 The Fan)

“Today snapped a 12-game losing streak in December home games for Washington. The 12-game skid dates back to 2017, as @Wash_PR  pointed out today.”

Dan Quinn

“I thought [LB] Bobby [Wagner] was the catalyst at the very beginning of the week and talking to his teammates, which he doesn’t do very often. So, for him, I knew there was something there that he wanted to share. And it’s so impactful when it can come from a teammate. And I thought he was the one that set this week off and set it in motion.”

Jayden Daniels

“It was great. It was great to win. Winning helps a lot so it was great to go out there and just have fun and be able to get out there and score touchdowns.”

“I can’t really pinpoint a point like a point in the week. I just think everybody, the mindset they had, and how we prepared throughout the week of practice.”

“I mean, I didn’t want to go into a bye week with an L. That would’ve been four straight. Obviously, winning always makes everything better.”

“We had a shorter field. We had a shorter field a couple of times this game and we capitalized. Last week we didn’t capitalize, and it came back and bit us in the butt.”

Terry McLaurin

“That felt amazing, honestly. The way we ran the ball at the line of scrimmage, the way we made plays on the perimeter, the way [QB] Jayden [Daniels] extended plays with his legs, the way we finished at the end with the ball in our hands, you know, that’s the standard that we have to live up to.”

“Yeah, you know, I’m extremely humbled and blessed to be in this situation, to play for this franchise with so many great receivers that came through here and just to have be a part of that elite group, I don’t take for granted”

“To get to play with a great player like Jayden [Daniels], it’s been a joy. Honestly, I’ve had a lot of fun this season growing and learning from him and helping him any way I can. And you know, with him, he’s going to give you an opportunity to make a play on the ball. He’s extremely accurate and, you know, he plays with a lot of confidence and I think that rubs off on all of us.”

Chris Rodriguez

“They (Adam Peters and Dan Quinn) believe in me, and I appreciate them for that. And, you know, every week, I’m just going to go out there whenever my number’s called and go out there and do what I need to do.”

“Obviously, I battled adversity throughout the week, but, they did a great job of keeping my head up and making sure I know who I am. So shout out to them.” (Teammates)

Bobby Wagner

“Shout out to Fletch. I don’t remember when I reached out to him, but I reached out to him awhile ago, and he was gracious with his time, and he answered every question that I had.”

“I’m just going to chill. I’m going to have one day where I just don’t set my alarm and I’m going to see what happens. So I’m looking forward to that.”

“I don’t think we really focused on the playoffs it’s more so just this was the game to focus on. We need to win this game. It’s good going into the bye having a win versus a loss.”

Commanders announce seven inactives at Eagles

The Commanders have seven inactive players for Thursday night’s matchup with the Eagles, thus elevating players from the practice squad.

The Washington Commanders, in preparation for their matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, released their final list of inactive players ahead of kickoff. There are seven Commanders who will be unavailable for tonight’s game:

 

  • LB Dominque Hampton: A rookie drafted in the 5th round; Hampton hasn’t been active yet in 2024.
  • K Austin Seibert: Seibert will miss his second consecutive game with a hip injury.
  • QB Jeff Driskel: This is the seventh consecutive game Driskel is inactive. He is however the designated emergency quarterback if two quarterbacks are injured today. He was active when Marcus Mariota was on injured reserve.
  • CB Marshon Lattimore: Lattimore injured a hamstring while still with the Saints and missed his final game as a Saint. Missing the first two with Washington, he has now missed three consecutive games.
  • RB Chris Rodriguez: Without Rodriguez, the Commanders seriously need Brian Robinson to remain healthy throughout tonight’s game.
  • LB Nick Bellore: This is the third game this season Bellore has been inactive.
  • Chris Paul: Paul was inactive the first seven games, then active for three games (Bears, Giants, Steelers), and tonight is again inactive vs the Eagles.

The Commanders also announced they have elevated K Zane Gonzalez from the Practice Squad to replace K Austin Seibert.

Finally, the team announced they have elevated DE Efe Obada from the practice squad. The Commanders initially released Obada after the trade for CB Marshon Lattimore, but they immediately re-signed him to the practice squad.

What jersey number will Marshon Lattimore wear for Commanders?

Marshon Lattimore will wear a familiar number for Washington.

Marshon Lattimore has worn No. 23 since entering the NFL ahead of the 2017 season. Lattimore spent the first 7.5 seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints, where he was a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a four-time Pro Bowler.

On Tuesday, the Saints traded Lattimore to the Washington Commanders. However, the Commanders already have someone wearing No. 23: second-year running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Rodriguez, who began this season on the practice squad, has been elevated to the 53-man roster three times and played a pivotal role in Sunday’s win over the Giants. Rodriguez ran for a team-high 52 yards and was on the field throughout the fourth quarter.

So, while Rodriguez has the number, he’s not stopping the newly acquired Pro Bowl cornerback from getting it. The Commanders announced that Lattimore will wear No. 23.

As for Rodriguez, he spoke to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post and explained why giving up the number was no big deal.

It’s easy to see why this team is so close. Everyone buys into head coach Dan Quinn’s team-first mindset. Rodriguez has proven that this season, which is evident in his decision to give up his number.

Commanders make roster moves ahead of Week 4

Commanders make some moves ahead of Week 4.

The Washington Commanders made a pair of roster moves on Saturday ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

Washington elevated defensive end Andre Jones Jr. and running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. from the practice squad. The moves reflect running back Austin Ekeler and defensive end Clelin Ferrell’s absences for Sunday’s game.

This is the second time the Commanders have elevated Jones. He played nine snaps in last week’s win over Cincinnati, registering one tackle. As a rookie last season, Jones appeared in 14 games.

Rodriguez, like Jones, was one of Washington’s 2023 draft picks. This will be Rodriguez’s first action of the season, as he will backup Brian Robinson Jr. and Jeremy McNichols.

Rodriguez played in 13 games as a rookie, carrying the football 51 times for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

The Commanders enter Sunday’s game on a two-game winning streak after shocking the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Young Commanders running back ‘could handle feature role’ if given chance

The Commanders have a difficult decision to make at running back.

The Washington Commanders were praised for selecting former Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. During his time in the SEC, Rodriguez rushed for 3,644 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt and 32 touchdowns. Many believed that Rodriguez was a steal.

Overall, the Commanders’ draft class was underwhelming, but Rodriguez performed well when he had an opportunity. He appeared in 13 games and carried the ball 51 times for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Like starting running back Brian Robinson Jr., Rodriguez didn’t receive enough opportunities last season under former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports believes Rodriguez could handle a featured-back role if given the chance.

Rodriguez is a throwback runner — wide frame, downhill style and linebackers glance off him when he really gets the legs churning, even between the tackles. At nearly 6-0 and 217 pounds, he’s plenty big enough to shoulder a sizable load if needed, although he’ll start his second season in the nation’s capital behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler.

Fascinatingly, in the SEC, at nearly the same time frame, Rodriguez averaged 4.00 yards after contact in his Kentucky career. Robinson averaged 3.38. Rodriguez’s contact balance and sheer force through contact are no joke. And, as a rookie in 2023, the former Wildcat icon demonstrated everything power-related to his game translates. On just 51 attempts with the Commanders, his yards after contact average was 3.65. Now, of course, he didn’t qualify for most rushing metrics, yet that 3.65 YAC rate would’ve ranked fourth in the NFL, right ahead of Breece Hall.

There’s a glimmer of wiggle to Rodriguez’s game, too, just in case you were wondering if he was only capable of running through walls in a straight line. The Washington backfield is in good hands because of the depth built there.

Does Washington’s new regime feel the same way about Rodriguez? Entering training camp, Rodriguez seemed like a no-brainer to be the No. 3 running back behind Robinson and Ekeler. However, throughout training camp and the preseason, it’s appeared that veteran Jeremy McNichols and rookie Michael Wiley are ahead of Rodriguez.

McNichols was with San Francisco last season, where new Commanders running backs coach Anthony Lynn was an assistant.

NFL teams have until 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday to trim their rosters to 53 players. Will Washington move on from Rodriguez? If they do, Rodriguez is a player who will almost assuredly be claimed off waivers.

How is the Commanders’ RB unit still ranked outside the top 20?

Washington should have a strong backfield in 2024.

In his second NFL season, Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 733 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per attempt. While those weren’t outstanding numbers, it’s important to note that Washington led the NFL in passing attempts while ranking dead last in rushing attempts.

The Commanders could run the ball when they chose to but rarely tried, even when games were close. This irked some Washington players, including guard Sam Cosmi.

This offseason, the Commanders moved on from former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. After hiring Dan Quinn as head coach, he hired former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as the new offensive coordinator.

Washington wasted no time in adding to the backfield, signing veteran Austin Ekeler on the first day of free agency’s legal tampering period in March. That gave the new-look Commanders a backfield of Robinson, Ekeler and second-year pro Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Kingsbury’s offense plans to feature the run, regardless of what you hear about him as an Air Raid guy. The Commanders reportedly plan to run more 12 personnel in 2024 to support rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Robinson and Ekeler could form one of the NFL’s better duos in 2024 because of their complementary skill sets. Robinson will be the lead back, while Ekeler can operate as the third-down back. While both are good receivers in the passing game, Ekeler has been the NFL’s top pass-catching backs for years. Rodriguez represents the perfect change of pace from both.

How is Washington’s backfield viewed across the NFL?

Apparently, not too well. Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 NFL backfields and placed the Commanders at No. 24.

The Commanders ranked 16th in PFF rushing grade in 2023 before subbing out Antonio Gibson for Austin Ekeler this offseason. Ekeler is coming off the lowest single-season rushing and receiving grades (65.1 and 57.4) of his career, but a change of scenery for him in Washington could lead to a bounce back.

Behind Ekeler, Washington haw Brian Robinson and Chris Rodriguez Jr., both of whom earned rushing grades above 73.0 last season.

Why does PFF think Robinson will be behind Ekeler? And how is Washington’s backfield not ranked somewhere inside the top 20?

Sure, there are some concerns with Ekeler’s age, as he battled a nagging injury last season. But he says he’s healthy and from watching him during the offseason, he surely looks healthy. Robinson is re-energized under the new coaching staff.

The Commanders essentially swapped out Antonio Gibson for Ekeler. Gibson was frustrating at times, but neither of his two offensive coordinators in Washington knew how to use him. Ekeler has accomplished a lot more in his NFL career, but how much does he have left?

If the Commanders’ backfield remains healthy in 2024, they could be one of the more intriguing units in the NFL.

 

Commanders fare poorly in 2023 NFL draft re-grade

The early returns aren’t good for Washington, but a new regime brings hope.

Ron Rivera’s final season in charge of the Washington Commanders was horrendous. The Commanders finished 4-13 and fielded the NFL’s worst defenses, and Rivera was relieved of his duties in January.

Rivera’s final legacy with Washington is his 2023 NFL draft class. The early returns aren’t good. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the Commanders’ first-round pick, was benched twice. Second-round pick Quan Martin showed flashes when he was allowed to play, while third-round pick Ricky Stromberg barely played, made no impact and missed the second half of the season with an injury.

Fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels likely wasn’t making the team out of training camp and was placed on injured reserve. Fifth-round pick K.J. Henry showed promise in the second half of the season, while sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. thrived in a limited role. Finally, seventh-round selection Andre Jones Jr. didn’t do much but has tools.

So, if we graded this class after one year, it wouldn’t be a passing grade.

Diante Lee of The Athletic recently regraded the entire 2023 NFL draft, assigning grades to all 32 NFL teams. Lee placed Washington under the final category: A step backward/Incomplete. Only three teams were in this category, and Lee offered the following analysis:

Washington Commanders: D-minus

Emmanuel Forbes (No. 16) had some rough moments, to the point that he was benched during the 2023 season. Safety Quan Martin (No. 47) played in the slot by necessity as a rookie, but it’s not clear if that’s the best spot for him in Dan Quinn’s defense. After trading away two starting edge rushers last year, this team cannot afford to have its early picks sitting on the bench.

That’s a deserving grade. We could make the case you could give Washington an F. The good news here is that new head coach Dan Quinn brings hope. Quinn hired an all-star staff, including new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., known for his work with defensive backs. That’s good news for Forbes and Martin.

If Forbes and Martin turn out to be hits, while others, like Henry and Rodriguez, can carve out roles, this draft will not look nearly as bad in a couple of years.

Best Kentucky Running Backs of All-Time

Taking a look at the five best running backs in the history of Kentucky Wildcats football.

The University of Kentucky, while not being the best football school in the country, does have a long history of running the ball and having extremely talented running backs. This isn’t just a recent thing either. It goes all the way back to the 1960’s and they have had at least one great running back for every decade.

Over the years, there have been a number of running backs from Kentucky go on to be good NFL players. Before that, they were great college players who were among the best at their postition.

From guys like Roger Bird and Sonny Collins all the way up to Benny Snell and Chris Rodriguez, the Wildcats have had come of the better running backs in the country for a long time. Making a list of the best isn’t easy, but here is one opinion of the top five running backs in the history of the University of Kentucky football.

How many ‘hits’ did the Commanders have in their 2023 NFL draft class?

How many “hits” did Washington have in last year’s draft? The new coaching staff could change the fortunes of several players.

There were questions when the Washington Commanders selected Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes over Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

It’s not as if teams didn’t like Forbes. Several teams and draft analysts raved about Forbes, specifically his ball skills. Forbes set an FBS record with six interceptions returned for touchdowns in his three-year college career. And, playing in the SEC, Forbes routinely played against college football’s top wide receivers.

However, teams were concerned about Forbes’ slight frame.

With their second-round pick, the Commanders doubled down in the secondary, selecting the versatile Quan Martin of Illinois. Martin could play everywhere in the secondary and was seen as a valuable second-round pick, but Washington was criticized for not focusing on other need areas, such as the offensive line.

After one NFL season, there are many questions about Forbes, not so much about Martin. Forbes showed signs of flashes, but in a Week 4 loss to the Eagles, Washington’s coaches kept him in a one-on-one matchup against Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown continuously beat Forbes. The following week, D.J. Moore of the Chicago Bears did the same thing to the rookie.

Forbes was benched. He returned, was benched again and returned again. The former coaching staff did nothing for Forbes. Washington’s former defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio) and defensive backs coach (Brent Vieselmeyer) were fired after a Thanksgiving blowout loss at Dallas.

Martin showed flashes throughout the second half of the season and looks to have a bright future under Washington’s new coaching staff.

New defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. mentioned Forbes and Martin as players he liked coming out of last year’s draft.

Outside of Forbes and Martin, the Commanders had five other draft picks. Only two gave them much of anything last season: Fifth-round DE K.J. Henry and sixth-round RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

CBS Sports NFL draft expert Chris Trapasso recently analyzed each 2023 draft class by the number of “hits” each team had after one season.

Washington had one: Rodriguez.

It clearly wasn’t a high-volume role for Rodriguez as a rookie, but he nearly averaged five yards per tote and forced an impressive 12 missed tackles on his 51 carries. Other than Rodriguez, the Washington 2023 draft class was essentially non-existent, and first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes was a liability in coverage.

He’s not wrong. Rodriguez routinely displayed his ability in limited opportunities. As for Martin, we’d call him a “hit,” but we can also understand the jury remains out.

This draft class will always be remembered for Forbes. As other rookie cornerbacks saw more immediate success than Forbes, his selection will be criticized. However, no one should write him off. He had one bad season with an underperforming, lame-duck coaching staff.

New head coach Dan Quinn, Whitt, defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons and veteran assistant John Pagano bring plenty of NFL experience to Washington’s staff in 2024. Forbes, Martin and others should benefit from a much better coaching staff next season.