Who Should I Start? Kimani Vidal or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Saturday, December 13, 12:08 AM

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal heads into Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs with an almost evenly split backfield, following the recent return of Omarion Hampton (14 carries for Vidal vs. 13 for Hampton). Vidal ran the ball 14 times for 44 yards (3.1 YPC) but made a notable impact with one reception for 60 yards, resulting in a 68.9% snap share. Chargers OC Greg Roman recently said he prefers a hot-hand approach, but right now, he is "seeing two guys with the hot hand," which is "a good problem to have." Although the Chiefs are more vulnerable on the ground than through the air, they still rank in the top seven in rushing yards allowed, making this a tough matchup for both backs. RotoBaller projects Vidal as RB43 this week. Given his involvement in the passing game and the team's ongoing reliance on the run due to Justin Herbert's injury, Vidal is a low-end FLEX option in deeper leagues.

Sunday, December 14, 2:17 AM

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has taken a back seat in the rushing attack recently, causing his value to slide ahead of the fantasy playoffs. The rookie garnered a ton of hype this summer and began the season as the clear leader of Washington's backfield. However, a significant dip in efficiency starting back in Week 6 has been a death knell for the 24-year-old's workload. Over that time frame, Croskey-Merritt has eclipsed 3.5 yards per carry in a given game on just three occasions. Conversely, teammate Chris Rodriguez Jr. (groin) has boasted double-digit carries in four of the last five games, marking a shift in the team's game plan. With Rodriguez Jr. questionable for Sunday's outing with the Giants, Croskey-Merritt may see a modest uptick in touch load. Still, he's clearly fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and can be avoided outside of a stash in dynasty formats.