Who Should I Start? Rachaad White or Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Rachaad White News
Monday, June 15, 6:42 PM
Zach Selby of Commanders.com writes that new running back Rachaad White is one of several RBs in the Washington Commanders' committee approach to the backfield heading into the 2026 season. White, a third-rounder by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 out of Arizona State, was relegated to a backup role behind Bucky Irving in the second half of his rookie deal. The 27-year-old has mostly been lauded as a pass-catcher in his four-year NFL career, having hauled in 205 passes (230 targets) for 1,450 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in 67 total games (48 starts) with the Bucs. White said that Washington's RB room is "loaded" with players who can fit different roles. Second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the best chance to become the Commanders' lead back, with White as the primary pass-catcher. However, the team also has Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and rookie Kaytron Allen fighting for roles. White will probably only be worth considering as a late-round option for depth at the RB position in point-per-reception formats in 2026 in his first year in D.C. RotoBaller has White ranked as the No. 41 RB in PPR setups, just two spots in front of Croskey-Merritt.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jacory Croskey-Merritt News
Monday, June 15, 6:30 PM
Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has missed some offseason work due to a soft-tissue injury, has the best chance to become the team's lead back in 2026, according to Zach Selby of Commanders.com. Croskey-Merritt, also known as Bill, has "quickness on the outside and has enough burst to run through creases at the line of scrimmage." The 25-year-old rushed for 805 yards in 2025, third in his draft class, and added eight touchdowns on 175 carries over 17 games (seven starts). JCM must still improve in pass protection, but he showed plenty of patience and decisiveness as a ball-carrier despite not being taken until the seventh round in the 2025 NFL draft. Croskey-Merritt was used sparingly as a pass-catcher as a rookie, hauling in nine passes on just 13 targets for 68 yards. Newcomer Rachaad White will most likely operate as Washington's primary pass-catching back, with Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols providing veteran depth. Ball security was another issue for JCM as a rookie, and if those issues resurface in Year 2, he could quickly lose touches to White, Ford, and McNichols. Fantasy managers should consider Croskey-Merritt as an RB3/4 with upside if he proves himself more in passing situations.
Rachaad White vs. Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Still trying to decide between White and Croskey-Merritt? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Rachaad White is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Jacory Croskey-Merritt is projected to score 0.0 points.
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