Who Should I Start? Chris Brooks or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Tuesday, August 5, 1:16 PM

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said there's nothing that running back Chris Brooks can't do and also expressed confidence in Brooks as the team's RB2 behind Josh Jacobs with both Emanuel Wilson and MarShawn Lloyd out with injuries currently at training camp. Brooks and Wilson stepped up behind Jacobs in 2024 with Lloyd playing in just one game in his rookie season due to injuries. The 25-year-old Brooks handled only 36 rushing attempts for 183 yards and a touchdown, although he averaged over five yards per carry for the second straight season. He added 11 catches for 69 yards on 13 targets in 15 regular-season games (no starts). While it's nice that Green Bay has confidence in Brooks to back up Jacobs if needed, he's not going to be very relevant in fantasy unless both Wilson and Lloyd aren't ready to go for the start of the regular season.

Friday, August 15, 10:24 AM

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (shoulder) is all but assured of a roster spot, and it "wouldn't be a surprise to see him play a significant role in the offense," according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. The rookie seventh-rounder suffered a shoulder injury in Washington's first preseason game, but it isn't considered serious. Croskey-Merritt's training camp performance has earned a steady drumbeat of praise from both team personnel and Commanders' beat writers. He will almost certainly open the season behind both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler on the backfield depth chart, but it appears that Washington is open to him working his way into more playing time. Croskey-Merritt is a name for fantasy managers to monitor on the waiver wire or even as a late-round dart throw in deep leagues.