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Are Kyle Monangai, Chris Rodriguez, Devin Neal must-add waiver wire pickups for Week 14 fantasy football? Are they breaking out for fantasy football in 2025?
We are entering the home stretch of the fantasy football season, as managers look to fill their available roster spots with players that are ready to make an impact. Fantasy championships are on the line, and making the best decisions for your team is going to be the difference between winning and losing.
The three running backs listed in this piece have all taken key roles in their team's offense, whether it was by injury, better play, or incredible team production.
So, should fantasy managers add these three running backs before Week 14? Let's dive in and find out.
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Kyle Monangai Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 59% of Leagues
Baller Move: Add in All Leagues
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai has become an essential part of this Ben Johnson offense. Over 12 games, Monangai has accumulated 688 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 131 carries.
The 2025 seventh-round pick has been on a hot streak lately, averaging 14.1 carries for 72.9 yards and 5 touchdowns over his last seven games. Since Week 7, the rookie is averaging 13.1 PPR points per game, ranking 12th among all running backs in that period.
Monangai's TD extends the Bears lead!
CHIvsPHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/S7vJLennWQ— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2025
Although he entered the season as a long shot to be an impact player, Monangai has been a huge part for this Bears’ rushing attack, which has improved from the 25th-ranked rushing unit in 2024 to the second-best in 2025.
Currently, Monangai and 2024 starter D’Andre Swift share rushing duties as a committee, with both backs combining for over 18 carries and 120 yards in Week 12’s dominating win over the defending champion, Philadelphia Eagles.
This backfield is expected to remain a dual-back system, and even if Monangai doesn’t have immediate must-start fantasy value, he remains one of the best handcuff options in the NFL. Swift has been listed on the injury report multiple times this season, and in the one game he missed, Monangai totaled 198 scrimmage yards on 29 attempts.
Even though the upcoming schedule for the Bears’ running backs is less than ideal, Monangai is firmly on the fantasy radar and is a top-25 back for the rest of the 2025 season.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 24% of Leagues
Baller Move: Add in All leagues
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. has quietly surpassed the rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the Commanders' backfield. Since Week 9, Rodriguez has averaged 11 carries a game, for 50.3 yards per game, and has added three touchdowns in his last four games.
In what was perceived to be Croskey-Merritt’s backfield, Rodriguez has handled 40% of the snaps since Week 9, while Jeremy McNichols has played 32% and Croskey-Merritt has played 33%. The timeshare between Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt opened wider in Week 13, with "C-Rod" playing 44%, while "JCM" played a season-low 14% of the snaps.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. is in for the @Commanders TD!
DENvsWAS on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/M4mZTpDyyV— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2025
The Commanders' offense has struggled in 2025, especially in recent weeks with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in the lineup. The Commanders rank 22nd in points per game, and have scored over 24 points just once since Week 5.
Now, star quarterback Jayden Daniels is gearing up for a return to play, which should improve the offense, and that would be fantastic for the fantasy value of Rodriguez. In 2024, Daniels led the Commanders to the fifth-highest points per game in the entire NFL, and starting back Brian Robinson Jr. had eight touchdowns in 13 games.
The Commanders face two ideal matchups for running backs in the fantasy playoffs, facing the Giants and Cowboys, who rank bottom ten in rushing defense this season. With Daniels returning and an ideal schedule, Rodriguez Jr. is a must-roster guy before the fantasy playoffs begin.
Devin Neal Week 14 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 57% of Leagues
Baller Move: Add in 12-Team Leagues
New Orleans Saints rookie running back Devin Neal was unproductive in his first career NFL start. Neal had 14 carries for 47 yards on the ground, while he added three receptions for 22 yards in the 21-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
With Alvin Kamara (knee) dealing with an MCL sprain, Neal is being relied upon for the RB1 duties. In Week 12, Neal played every RB snap besides Kamara (who left the game in the first quarter), and played 81% of the snaps in Week 13.
Devin Neal Sees 17 Touches in Week 13, Could Make More Starts https://t.co/tJrZ18zKxN
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 1, 2025
The Saints will use Neal as a workhorse with Kamara out, but it’s unclear how long the veteran will remain out of the lineup. Kamara suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in 2022 and was placed on the injured reserve, but with Kamara still on the active roster, it’s expected that he will return in a few weeks.
If Kamara misses Week 14, Neal will be the clear workhorse for the Saints once again. In an easy matchup against the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, Neal is a FLEX play and should be rostered as a handcuff.
However, fantasy managers should be thinking about the long-term and players like Monangai and Rodriguez should be more of a priority, rather than a handcuff on one of the worst offenses in football.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pickup off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
Who Should I Pickup? Some common 2025 fantasy football waiver wire decisions are regarding players like Kyle Monangai, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Devin Neal. But not to worry, we are here to help make these waiver wire decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups in 2025. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to pickup... all free! Make the right decisions.
2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus in on specific players - Kyle Monangai, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Devin Neal. These are some common searches for 2025 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player name. In the second box, search for the second player name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections and more.
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How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football waiver wire rankings and projections based on their research, and update it constantly throughout the week. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players that are ranked.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Kyle Monangai, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Devin Neal:
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