Who Should I Start? Ollie Gordon II or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Friday, October 10, 8:35 PM

Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II has played about 25% of snaps in four of his five games, usually logging about 15 snaps per game. He had a season-high nine carries in Week 3 against the Bills, when he scored his only touchdown of the year as well. The last two weeks, though, he hasn't been able to move into a larger role. Last week against the Panthers, he only managed -2 yards on three carries against the Panthers. The rookie does have some potential, but De'Von Achane is dominating the workload and production in the Dolphins' backfield for now. He will likely get some work against the Chargers in Week 6, but as the RB50 in RotoBaller's rankings, he's not a strong play in most leagues since his role has been so limited.

Friday, October 10, 7:32 PM

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt broke out with his best game of the season in Week 5 against the Chargers, totaling 150 yards and two touchdowns on 16 touches. The Croskey-Merritt takeover finally happened in Week 5, posting a season-high 50.9% snap share, handling 50% of the team's rush attempts, and running 31.3% of the team's routes. All marks were the highest of any Washington back in Week 5, and he delivered with a remarkable performance. For the season, he's rushed 283 yards and four touchdowns on 43 carries, averaging a league-best 6.6 yards per carry. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury provided some reason to keep the optimism in check, saying that the rookie still has "ways to go" in terms of playing without the ball in his hands. His work in pass protection has improved, but that is still an area where veteran Jeremy McNichols is most trusted. Third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. saw his lowest snap count and fewest carries in a game since becoming active in Week 5, suggesting he may be slipping back into a depth role. Croskey-Merritt should be expected to handle the bulk of the touches again in Week 6 against a Bears defense that is allowing an absurd 6.1 yards per carry and the fourth-most PPR points per game to opposing running backs. He should be fired up as a high-upside RB2 on Monday night.