Who Should I Start? Jaydon Blue or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Wednesday, September 3, 10:40 AM

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue makes his NFL debut on Thursday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 2025 fifth-round pick suffered a low-ankle sprain in the preseason finale against Atlanta, but practiced in full this week and is off the injury report. Blue opens the year as the RB3 in Dallas, sitting behind Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on the depth chart. That leaves him without a clear fantasy role heading into Week 1. Even if the Cowboys mix him in for a handful of touches, the matchup is as bad as it gets. Philadelphia allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2024. For now, Blue is more of a deep stash in dynasty and very deep leagues, while redraft managers should keep him on their bench until his workload becomes more defined.

Wednesday, September 3, 2:02 PM

Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was seen working as the No. 2 running back during team drills on Wednesday, according to JP Finaly of NBC. This is an excellent sign for the seventh-round rookie as he was listed fourth on the team's depth chart earlier in the week. During these QB/RB drills, Croskey-Merritt was deployed behind the presumed starter, Austin Ekeler, while Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. were deployed as the No. 3 and No. 4 options. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on this backfield throughout the early part of the season. Earlier in August, the Commanders opted to trade their top running back from last season, Brian Robinson Jr., to the San Francisco 49ers. In the preseason, Croskey-Merritt has looked very impressive and continues to make a case to open the season in the starting role. For now, the Arizona product figures to be a risky RB3 in Week 1 as his role has yet to be defined.