Who Should I Start? Deebo Samuel Sr. or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Friday, October 31, 10:44 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. has turned in two of his quietest performances of the season over his last two games. Samuel missed Week 7 against the Cowboys due to a heel injury, but he's totaled just seven catches for 26 yards on 11 targets in Weeks 6 and 8 as he still seems to be impacted by the injury. The 29-year-old will hope to return to his early-season form on Sunday Night Football against the Seahawks, as Washington will again be without top wideout Terry McLaurin after he re-aggravated his quadriceps injury during their Week 8 loss at the Chiefs. Samuel has averaged 16.4 PPR points per game without McLaurin in the lineup, compared to 12.3 with him, but he'll face a tough Seattle defense getting top cornerback Devon Witherspoon back in action. The former San Francisco 49er wideout will face a familiar division rival he knows well, averaging 110.4 total yards per game with seven total touchdowns in eight career games against the Seahawks, including a three-catch, 102-yard, one touchdown performance in a Week 6 primetime matchup against them last season.

Friday, October 31, 5:53 PM

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.