Who Should I Start? Jeremy McNichols or Montrell Johnson Jr.

Tuesday, March 11, 4:37 PM

The Washington Commanders are re-signing running back Jeremy McNichols to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, a source tells ESPN's John Keim. Although McNichols wasn't on the fantasy radar at all last year in his first year in D.C., he was a valuable member of the team's RB room as a backup for his blitz pickups while also contributing a career-high 267 rushing yards and a career-high four rushing touchdowns on 55 carries over 17 regular-season games (one start). He also had nine catches for 27 yards and added nine yards and a touchdown on five carries in three playoff games. With both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler returning to the Commanders' backfield in 2025, McNichols will open the year as the No. 3 RB and will have a bigger role on special teams as a return man. The 29-year-old has only 625 rushing yards and five rushing TDs on 145 carries over seven NFL seasons.

Wednesday, May 7, 7:58 PM

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed undrafted free agent running back Montrell Johnson Jr. to an undisclosed contract. Dylan Olive of Sports Illustrated reported the news. The former Florida Gator spent three seasons with the team in college after a rookie-year stint with the University of Louisiana. Johnson Jr. was better during his first three collegiate campaigns, rushing for at least 817 yards in each while lauding double-digit TD totals in two of them. However, his production ticked down in 2024 while operating as the lesser half of a timeshare with former teammate Jadan Baugh. The New Orleans native has good size and speed as a runner, but also a bevy of competent rushers ahead of him on the Eagles' depth chart.