Chris Rodriguez

Rodriguez might be something of a throwback player, a no-glamour runner who makes the pads crack and crumbles the defense over the course of a game, but his truly unique trait is the fact that he provides meaningful big-play ability while adhering to this brutish aesthetic. That grinder aesthetic made it easy to dismiss Rodriguez as a prospect -- when people glanced at him, they noticed his clobbering running style and labeled him a plodder, denying him proper credit for his ability to break off long gains. Rodriguez has the vision, tempo and speed to get into and through the secondary -- a skillset that helped him run for 3,644 yards and 32 TDs on 592 carries (6.2 YPC) at the University of Kentucky. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen was the Wildcats' offensive coordinator during Rodriguez's biggest season (2021) and was quick to praise the 26-year-old RB after Jacksonville signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract this offseason ($6.2 million guaranteed). The limitation for Rodriguez's fantasy utility is likely in the passing game -- he can probably pick up the blitz fine and hasn't specifically shown bad hands, but there is still no history of him catching more than the occasional pass at either the college or pro level. As a power-oriented rushing specialist in the Jaguars offense, Rodriguez should prove a good pairing with the speedy Bhayshul Tuten. First, Rodriguez will need to prove he's healthy at training camp after undergoing foot surgery in the spring. Read Past Outlooks