RADIO
Should I start Chris Rodriguez Jr., Isiah Pacheco, Bhayshul Tuten for Week 5? Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks and recommendations for the 2025 NFL season.
Week 5 is upon us, and with roughly one-fourth of the season in the books, we can make some more informed decisions on who belongs in our fantasy football lineups. This is the first week where bye weeks are a factor, reducing the field of available players. Even with a shallower pool to select from, fantasy football managers need to be selective when finding the right players to plug in as starters. By now, we have seen enough to notice trends that can help determine who will get the nod and who can be left on the bench.
In this article, we will see if running backs Chris Rodriguez Jr., Isiah Pacheco, and Bhayshul Tuten should be started in fantasy in Week 5. All three have had their ups and downs this season, and all three are involved in timeshares to one degree or another. Fantasy football managers are left wondering how much these running backs can be trusted to contribute to a winning lineup week-to-week.
So, should fantasy managers start Rodriguez, Pacheco, and Tuten in Week 5? Let's take a look at what to expect from each.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) rankings
- Tight end (TE) rankings
- Quarterback (QB) rankings
- FLEX rankings
- Defense (D/ST) rankings
- Kicker (K) rankings
- Dynasty rankings
Should I Start Chris Rodriguez Jr. for Fantasy Football?
When the Washington Commanders traded away Brian Robinson Jr. in the preseason, it seemed like a step in the right direction for Rodriguez's production, as it was one less mouth to feed in that backfield. However, Rodriguez started the season as a healthy scratch in Weeks 1 and 2. Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2 opened the door for Rodriguez to be an active participant. The Commanders tabbed Rodriguez as their starting running back in Weeks 3 and 4, and he led the team in rushing attempts and yards over their last two games.
The Commanders have a tough matchup in Week 5. The Los Angeles Chargers rank second-best in fantasy points allowed per game to opposing running backs and have allowed the sixth-lowest rushing yard total to the position in 2025. On the plus side, Rodriguez's two starts came against stingy run defenses (the Raiders and the Falcons), and he came away with 5.4 yards per carry and an 11.1 explosive rush rate.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. rips off a 49-yard run for the @Commanders
WASvsATL on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/z875X7V00w
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
The three-headed beast that is the Commanders' backfield will be impossible to predict. Rodriguez, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols have almost equal snap shares over the last two weeks. McNichols is the clear favorite in late-down situations and two-minute drills, with Rodriguez and JCM sharing the workload on early downs. Rodriguez projects as a low-end RB3 regardless of scoring format in Week 5. Not known for his work as a pass-catcher, and with zero targets in his two games, he can ride the pine in PPR leagues. In standard-scoring, he can ride as a flex option in deeper leagues.
Should I Start Isiah Pacheco for Fantasy Football?
Pacheco drafters have had it rough in 2025. After four games, Pacheco's highest rushing total is a 45-yard game in Week 3. On the season, he has 32 carries for 127 yards. Last week, he finally found the end zone for the first time, albeit on an eight-yard reception. He now has six catches for 26 receiving yards on nine targets in 2025.
While the score was a nice result for those riding with him, his usage in Week 4 raised a yellow flag. For the first time this season, Kareem Hunt overtook Pacheco in both snap share and carries. Rookie Brashard Smith was also given a bigger piece of the pie last Sunday, snatching up a 26% snap share while Pacheco's tumbled to 37%.
#Chiefs Week 4 RB Usage
- Kareem Hunt: 44% snaps, 13 carries, 13 routes, 1 target (47 yds)
- Isiah Pacheco: 37% snaps, 7 carries, 15 routes, 3 targets (48 yds, TD)
- Brashard Smith: 26% snaps, 4 carries, 7 routes, 4 targets (36 yds)— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 29, 2025
Pacheco's muddled backfield is similar to the jam Rodriguez is in, though Pacheco has not done much to separate himself from the pack, and signs are pointing to him slipping on the depth chart. Pacheco was widely drafted to operate as a team's RB2 in fantasy football, but he is not performing as such, averaging 6.8 PPR points thus far. Against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has allowed the third-fewest rushing yards to opposing running backs, expectations for Pacheco should be low. He projects as a low-upside RB3 and should start only in deeper leagues with 14 or more teams.
Should I Start Bhayshul Tuten for Fantasy Football?
In the wake of the Jaguars trading Tank Bigsby to the Eagles after Week 1, Bhayshul Tuten has stepped up as Travis Etienne Jr.'s backup. The rookie made his mark right away, picking up 74 scrimmage yards and his first career touchdown on 10 touches in Week 2. His participation was scaled back in Week 3 due to a shoulder injury, but he still managed to score a second touchdown in that game. A healthy Tuten saw his carries regress again in Week 4, in favor of Etienne, who averaged 6.5 yards per carry against the 49ers.
In Week 5, the Jaguars face a surprisingly soft Kansas City Chiefs run defense. Through the first four games of 2025, they have served up 5.18 yards per carry to opposing running backs and at least one touchdown to the position since Week 2. Etienne has held firmly to his role atop the Jags' depth chart, and his effectiveness gives the team little reason to take work away from him.
I legit just LOL at this stat I found…
Travis Etienne is averaging 8.8 YPC in the first half this season and 14.3 YPC in the 2nd Qtr.
1st Half: 26 Att, 230 Yards (8.8 YPC)
2nd Qtr: 13 Att, 183 Yards (14.3 YPC)
pic.twitter.com/TwXWZFQJJi— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) October 1, 2025
Surely, Etienne's pace will drop off at some point, but while he is running this hot, expect the Jaguars to keep the ball in his hands over Tuten. For his part, Tuten remains a solid stash and promising handcuff. In Week 5, he is projected as an RB4 who will need another touchdown to make any real impact in fantasy football. He can stay on the bench for now.
Who Should I Start Tool
Not sure who to start? Check out the Who Should I Start tool:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to start...
Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 5 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Chris Rodriguez Jr., Isiah Pacheco, and Bhayshul Tuten. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 5. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 5 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Chris Rodriguez Jr., Isiah Pacheco, and Bhayshul Tuten. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 5.
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's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. 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 who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 1 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 5 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 5 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 5 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Chris Rodriguez Jr., Isiah Pacheco, and Bhayshul Tuten compared to others:
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
