Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had started every game since Week 5, but his recent struggles led to the team starting third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions. Rodriguez ended up leaving the game early due to a shoulder injury, but he played 72% of the snaps in the first half compared to Croskey-Merritt at 16%. As a result of the injury and the game being out of hand, the rookie seventh-rounder played 65.4% of snaps in the second half. It was still another inefficient outing on the ground for the 24-year-old with just 30 yards on 11 carries. Croskey-Merritt hasn't surpassed four yards per carry in a game since his 150-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 5 against the Chargers. Rodriguez's status will be updated throughout the week as the Commanders travel to Madrid to take on the Dolphins in Week 11, but it looks like Croskey-Merritt has lost grip on the starting running back duties in Washington.
Nov 11, 2025 10:43 AM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has struggled over the past four games, totaling just 157 yards on 51 carries and no touchdowns. Croskey-Merritt's 3.1 yards per carry ranks sixth lowest among running backs with at least 25 carries in that span. That comes after a five-game stretch to begin the season where the rookie seventh-rounder was one of the best stories in the league, averaging a league-best 6.6 yards per carry and a ridiculous 72.1% success rate. Croskey-Merritt also owned the second-highest explosive run rate (15+ yards) at 11.6% in that time, but has not generated a single explosive run over the past four weeks. With third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. coming off his best game of the season against Seattle and being named a team captain for Sunday's matchup against the Lions, Croskey-Merritt may cede more work to Rodriguez. With a lack of involvement in the pass game, Croskey-Merritt finds himself in low-end RB3 territory for Week 10, ranking as RotoBaller's RB33 in PPR leagues.
Nov 8, 2025 11:11 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (mouth) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. Croskey-Merritt was limited to begin the week due to a tooth issue. However, the rookie back was able to finish out the week with back-to-back full practice sessions. He'll be ready to go for this tough matchup against the Lions defense. Croskey-Merritt hasn't found much success on the ground lately. He has been held to 38 rushing yards or fewer in each of his last three games. However, Croskey-Merritt figures to continue having a fairly significant role in the backfield.
Nov 7, 2025 6:15 PM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (tooth) was able to practice in full on Thursday after being limited on Wednesday due to a tooth issue. Croskey-Merritt's status for Washington's Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions does not appear to be in jeopardy. The 24-year-old has recorded 440 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 94 carries across nine games so far this season. However, Croskey-Merritt has failed to crack 38 rushing yards or score a touchdown since Week 6. In Washington's Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Croskey-Merritt earned the same number of carries (12) as fellow Commanders back Chris Rodriguez Jr. Washington's unsettled backfield picture makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust Croskey-Merritt as a starter. He profiles as a low-end RB3/flex option against Detroit in Week 10.
Nov 6, 2025 4:48 PM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (mouth) was wearing a non-contact jersey on Wednesday and was listed as a limited practice participant after having dental work done, according to John Keim of ESPN. Croskey-Merritt should be available to play on Sunday against the visiting Detroit Lions, but the better question is whether he'll lose any playing time to Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. after stumbling the last few weeks. The 24-year-old seventh-rounder has been the team's lead back since Austin Ekeler suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 2, but Bill hasn't scored since Oct. 5 and is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry for 157 yards on 51 rushing attempts in the last four games. Expect defenses to load the box more to stop the run against Washington now, with quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) out for the foreseeable future. JCM is trending down as an RB3/flex play heading into this weekend.
Nov 5, 2025 6:39 PM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has struggled over the past month after a hot start to the season. The rookie has recorded 51 carries for 151 yards, no touchdowns, and a lost fumble while adding just three receptions (five targets) for nine yards in his past four games. Croskey-Merritt was outproduced by third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in Washington's blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. Rodriguez could be earning his way back into a more prominent role on early downs while veteran Jeremy McNichols handles the pass-down responsibilities. Croskey-Merritt has been held below four yards per carry in each of the last four games and has a longest run of just 11 yards in that time. Now, with star quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) out for an extended period of time, the Washington offense as a whole takes a significant hit. Croskey-Merritt doesn't catch passes, and now that the explosive runs have dried up, it's left fantasy managers with a disappointing result. After a promising start to his career, Croskey-Merritt looks more like an RB3/RB4 option than the potential league winner he appeared to be earlier in the year.
Nov 4, 2025 4:40 PM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has struggled since his Week 5 breakout against the Chargers, where he racked up 150 total yards and two touchdowns, finishing as the RB5 in PPR points for the week. Croskey-Merritt has recorded 39 carries for 119 yards to go with only two receptions for six yards on four targets and no touchdowns in the last three games. The rookie seventh-rounder has maintained a healthy snap share at 57.3%, but No. 2 running back Jeremy McNichols has served as the pass-down back and performed well in his opportunities. Croskey-Merritt is clearly the preferred option on early downs, but the lack of receiving is a hit to the ways he can produce for fantasy. The return of star quarterback Jayden Daniels will certainly help open up some rushing lanes, but Croskey-Merritt has a tough matchup against a Seahawks defense that is allowing the fewest yards per carry (3.3) and tied for the fewest rushing touchdowns (two) in the league through seven games. He is ranked as RotoBaller's RB30 in PPR formats for Sunday Night Football.
Oct 31, 2025 5:53 PM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt broke out for 150 total yards and two touchdowns in Week 5 against the Chargers, but he has disappointed in the past two weeks despite favorable matchups. Croskey-Merritt is still the clear No. 1 back in Washington, posting his three highest rushing attempt and route participation rates of the season over the past three weeks. The seventh-round rookie has still been one of the most efficient runners in the league despite the two-week lull, posting the third-highest success rate (60.3%) and eighth-highest explosive rush rate (6.8%) among running backs with at least 50 carries. He's not as involved in the passing game, which lowers his ceiling a tad, but he is still capable of delivering a big fantasy performance. He'll face a Kansas City Chiefs defense that hasn't been great on a down-to-down basis, ranking 22nd in rush success rate (42.6%). Croskey-Merritt ranks as RotoBaller's RB23 in PPR leagues for Week 8.
Oct 25, 2025 7:26 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had his worst performance of the season in Week 6 against the Bears, handling 17 carries for 61 yards with one reception for seven yards and losing a fumble for the second consecutive game. It's concerning to see him put the ball on the ground this frequently, but the coaching staff showed faith in him and went right back to him. On a positive note, the rookie seventh-rounder posted his highest snap share of the season at 66.7%. Croskey-Merritt should again handle the bulk of the touches in Week 7 against a Dallas defense that just allowed Rico Dowdle to rack up 239 total yards. They are allowing the fourth-most PPR points per game to opposing running backs, which sets up Croskey-Merritt for a nice bounce-back game. He is a must-start in Week 7.
Oct 17, 2025 8:48 PM EST
Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said that the team is "still confident" in rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt despite his ball-security issues, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Croskey-Merritt was unable to keep the momentum he had coming out of a breakout game in the Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, as he had 61 rushing yards on 17 carries and caught one pass for seven yards in the Monday night loss to the Chicago Bears. The 24-year-old also had a crucial fumble early in the game that led to a Bears touchdown. With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) out for the season, JCM isn't going anywhere in Washington's backfield and is clearly a better lead-back option than both Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt should maintain heavy volume in a plus matchup in Week 7 and is ripe for a bounce-back performance against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.
Oct 16, 2025 3:14 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt broke out with his best game of the season in Week 5 against the Chargers, totaling 150 yards and two touchdowns on 16 touches. The Croskey-Merritt takeover finally happened in Week 5, posting a season-high 50.9% snap share, handling 50% of the team's rush attempts, and running 31.3% of the team's routes. All marks were the highest of any Washington back in Week 5, and he delivered with a remarkable performance. For the season, he's rushed 283 yards and four touchdowns on 43 carries, averaging a league-best 6.6 yards per carry. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury provided some reason to keep the optimism in check, saying that the rookie still has "ways to go" in terms of playing without the ball in his hands. His work in pass protection has improved, but that is still an area where veteran Jeremy McNichols is most trusted. Third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. saw his lowest snap count and fewest carries in a game since becoming active in Week 5, suggesting he may be slipping back into a depth role. Croskey-Merritt should be expected to handle the bulk of the touches again in Week 6 against a Bears defense that is allowing an absurd 6.1 yards per carry and the fourth-most PPR points per game to opposing running backs. He should be fired up as a high-upside RB2 on Monday night.
Oct 10, 2025 7:32 PM EST
Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said that rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt still has a "ways to go" with his play when the football isn't in his hands, according to John Keim of ESPN. "Pass protection, pass game, any sort of lead blocks. He has to keep working to become a complete back but since day one when he touches the ball he does good things with it," Kingsbury added. It's about par for the course with most young RBs in the NFL. The 24-year-old displayed his upside in the Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, carrying the ball 14 times for a season-high 111 yards and two touchdowns, but he also lost a fumble. But will it be enough to get JCM out of a committee backfield approach in Washington that also includes Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols? Fantasy managers should be willing to find out with Croskey-Merritt in their starting lineups for a Monday night affair against the Chicago Bears to close out Week 7.
Oct 9, 2025 12:49 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt stepped up in Week 5 against the Chargers, taking 14 carries for 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The other running backs were less involved, with Chris Rodriguez Jr. only getting five carries for seven yards and Jeremy McNichols only one carry for six yards. Croskey-Merritt played a season-high 47% of snaps, while McNichols and Rodriguez only played 25% each. The seventh-round pick from Arizona seemed to gel well with returning QB Jayden Daniels and helped the team secure a big road win over the Chargers. This week, Croskey-Merritt and the Commanders are home against the Bears on Monday Night Football, which should be a good matchup for the rookie to continue to assert himself as the leader of the backfield going forward. He's definitely the most dynamic option of the group with the highest fantasy upside.
Oct 7, 2025 10:23 AM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had the best game of his young career in his team's 27-10 Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Croskey-Merritt recorded 14 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns, adding two catches for 39 yards as well. The 24-year-old has now recorded 43 carries for 283 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. Perhaps most encouragingly, Croskey-Merritt earned more than double the touches in Week 5 (16) of fellow Commanders running backs Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols combined (seven). If Croskey-Merritt can fully seize the lead rushing role in Washington, he could become a must-start fantasy running back sooner than later.
Oct 5, 2025 9:11 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has weekly upside because he's been so efficient and dynamic on his touches, but the role is still murky as part of a three-man committee in the Washington backfield. Croskey-Merritt is tied with third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in snap share over the past two weeks without Austin Ekeler, each playing 37.4% of the snaps and earning 18 touches apiece. Veteran back Jeremy McNichols has filled in primarily on late downs, playing 11 of 19 third and fourth-down plays over the past two weeks. Croskey-Merritt's role should continue to increase as he gets more experience. The rookie has been one of the most efficient runners in the league over his first month of NFL games. His 5.8 yards per carry ranks second best, while his 58.6% success rate is the best among all running backs. That may not continue in a tough Week 5 matchup against the Chargers, as they have been the stingiest defense against the run. They've allowed just 10.6 PPR points per game on the season. That leaves Croskey-Merritt as a low-end flex play in Week 5.
Oct 3, 2025 9:18 PM EST
ESPN's Dan Graziano reports that the Washington Commanders are "very happy at the moment using a committee" in the backfield, but they "view (rookie running back) Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the most capable one of the three to emerge as an all-around threat." Since veteran running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) suffered an Achilles tear in Week 2, the Commanders have split backfield playing time fairly evenly between Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Jeremy McNichols. Overall, through his first four NFL games, Croskey-Merritt has recorded 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries to go along with three catches for 15 yards on five targets. As long as all three Washington backs are sharing snaps, none profile as fantasy starters. However, it sounds as though Croskey-Merritt is the most likely Commanders running back to eventually seize a true lead role.
Oct 1, 2025 11:43 AM EST
Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a second straight underwhelming performance in the 34-27 Week 4 loss on the road to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Croskey-Merritt had seven carries, which tied Chris Rodriguez Jr., for 47 yards (6.7 yards per carry), and caught both of his targets for 10 additional yards in the passing game. The good news is that the 24-year-old led Washington's backfield with nine touches and had a healthy 6.7 yards per rush. However, Rodriguez was even more efficient with his seven carries and led the team in rushing with 59 yards, and Jeremy McNichols and receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. also stole five carries. JCM is going to remain involved in the Commanders' offense, but in this committee approach, he shouldn't be viewed as anything more than an RB3/flex play in fantasy. Since Austin Ekeler (Achilles) went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2, Croskey-Merritt has 15 carries for 73 yards and three catches for 15 yards.
Sep 30, 2025 12:44 PM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He missed two practices earlier this week but was able to log a full session on Friday. As a result, he was widely expected to play despite being listed as questionable. Indeed, after testing his injury pregame, the rookie has progressed enough to play against Atlanta. He'll continue to operate within a committee that also includes Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols. At best, Croskey-Merritt is a low-end RB3/flex in leagues with at least 14 teams.
Sep 28, 2025 11:32 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) is likely to be available when his team takes on the Atlanta Falcons, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. "Bill" missed multiple days of practice this week, but did make a return on Friday and is trending toward playing. Washington's backfield, however, hasn't developed a rhythm with Austin Ekeler (Achilles) out for the year. Though he did score last week, Croskey-Merritt has only 48 total yards the past two games, while Jeremy McNichols broke a long run to lead the team in rushing in Week 3. Chris Rodriguez, who was inactive the first two weeks, earned a team-high 11 carries in his return. Croskey-Merritt still has RB3/Flex potential against a good Falcons run defense, but another platoon seems likely.
Sep 28, 2025 7:40 AM EST
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) practiced in full on Friday after three straight DNPs earlier in the week. Croskey-Merritt should be all good to go for Week 4's matchup in Atlanta with the opportunity to see more work. He led the backfield with a 41% snap share and 23% route share while tying Chris Rodriguez Jr. with two goal-line carries. Rodriguez surprisingly started the game for Washington and led the team with 11 carries, clearly indicating that he will have a role. Croskey-Merritt will need to continue to gain the coaching staff's trust in pass protection before earning a bigger workload. He did, however, have a few positive moments as a pass blocker last week against the Raiders and has been continuously praised by the staff. Atlanta has been tougher on running backs through three weeks, allowing the eighth fewest fantasy points per game at 11.3. That puts Croskey-Merritt in RB3 territory for Week 4.
Sep 26, 2025 9:24 PM EST
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