Who Should I Start? Austin Ekeler or Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Austin Ekeler News
Thursday, April 30, 9:22 AM
Veteran free-agent running back Austin Ekeler (Achilles) is 100% fully medically cleared for all football activities after suffering a torn right Achilles last September against the Green Bay Packers, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Ekeler intends to play in 2026 and is expected to draw plenty of interest. The 30-year-old was one of the premier pass-catching backs in the NFL in his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers before he signed a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 season. He appeared in 12 games (six starts) for Washington in 2024, carrying the ball 77 times for 367 yards and four touchdowns while catching 35 passes for 366 receiving yards. Ekeler missed some time due to a concussion that year before playing in just two games in 2025 before tearing his Achilles. Ekeler might not be the same shifty back in space after his season-ending injury, but he could still give a team some solid pass-catching depth out of the backfield as he nears the end of his career.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jacory Croskey-Merritt News
Wednesday, May 27, 12:51 PM
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) is dressed but not participating in OTAs on Wednesday, per Commanders beat writer Ben Standig. It's not clear whether Croskey-Merritt is dealing with an injury, but fantasy managers should monitor for updates on his status in the coming weeks. The 25-year-old flashed high upside as a rookie in 2025, recording 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries across 17 games. Entering 2026, he appears to be in a job battle with Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford for the RB1 role in Washington. While Croskey-Merritt currently profiles as the best rusher of the group, he recorded just nine receptions as a rookie and may not be trusted to work on passing downs. Still, he could be poised for a breakout season in 2026, assuming he is not dealing with anything serious from a health perspective.
Austin Ekeler vs. Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Still trying to decide between Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Austin Ekeler is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Jacory Croskey-Merritt is projected to score 0.0 points.
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