Who Should I Start? Javonte Williams or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Friday, January 2, 4:31 PM

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (shoulder, neck) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the New York Giants, per The Athletic's Jon Machota. Williams has been battling a neck/shoulder injury that he originally suffered in Week 15. He was a non-participant every day of practice this week and will miss his first game of the season in Week 18. The 25-year-old has been a workhorse for the Cowboys in his first season with the team, finishing with 252 carries for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 35 catches (51 targets) for 137 yards and two more scores as a receiver. The former Denver Bronco will end the season as the RB13 in PPR points per game (15.2), a major value for fantasy managers who spent a mid-to-late round pick on him in draft season. Malik Davis (calf, eye) has also been ruled out after missing practice all week, setting up rookie Jaydon Blue for the first meaningful action of his career in a favorable matchup against the Giants' 30th-ranked run defense.

Thursday, January 1, 4:37 PM

Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (illness) was able to practice in full on Thursday after he was held out due to illness on Wednesday. Croskey-Merritt had his second 100-yard game and two rushing touchdowns in last week's Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, with Chris Rodriguez Jr. out due to illness. Rodriguez is back in the fold for the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, though, so fantasy managers will want to lower expectations for Croskey-Merritt in the final game of his rookie season. The 24-year-old JCM could be Washington's lead back against the Eagles, but Rodriguez's presence will definitely cap the rookie's upside this weekend.