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

Tuesday, January 20, 8:19 PM

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams did most of the heavy lifting in the team's thrilling overtime victory over the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, carrying the ball 21 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns while adding four catches for 30 yards on five targets. Meanwhile, backfield mate Blake Corum had only six carries for 19 yards. Williams isn't heading into the most ideal matchup in the NFC Championship game on Sunday against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, but he'll still be a top-three fantasy RB on volume alone in a high-flying offense. Williams could be a letdown against a Seahawks defense that allowed the second-fewest half-PPR points per game to the RB position during the regular season, including a league-low five rushing TDs. And if Corum gets more involved like he was at the end of the regular season, it would lower Williams' floor more.

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.