Who Should I Start? Julius Chestnut or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Wednesday, March 19, 3:13 PM

The Tennessee Titans are re-signing running back Julius Chestnut to a one-year contract, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Chestnut signed with Tennessee after going undrafted in 2022 out of Sacred Heart University, and he has contributed on special teams and offense over the last three seasons. Overall, the 24-year-old has logged 31 rushes for 102 yards, five receptions for 52 yards, four tackles, and one fumble recovery in 23 career games. While Chestnut is unlikely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025, the run of unfortunate injury luck for backup running back Tyjae Spears keeps him on the fantasy football radar in the deepest of fantasy football leagues. That said, if the Titans select a running back in the 2025 NFL Draft at any point, Chestnut could be a cut candidate after training camp.

Tuesday, May 27, 3:06 PM

Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a potential sleeper to watch during the team's offseason activities, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. "A back-end roster player who could garner significant attention in the offseason: Jacory Croskey-Merritt," Standig wrote. "The 5-foot-11, 208-pounder has the goods to get there despite sitting out nearly the entire 2024 college season with eligibility issues. If Kingsbury falls for this competitive runner's one-cut burst, there could be a running back room shake-up." The seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft spent the first four seasons of his collegiate career at Alabama State before a breakout season at New Mexico, where he rushed 189 times for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns. In 2024 at Arizona, he rushed 13 times for 106 yards and one score in one game appearance. While Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler remain penciled in as the RB1 and RB2 for Washington, it sounds like Croskey-Merritt is a name worth monitoring later in the offseason. If he makes the roster, he could be worth stashing in deeper redraft and dynasty leagues. Last season, third-string running back Jeremy McNichols popped up on the fantasy radar, so anything is possible.