Who Should I Start? Ray Davis or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Saturday, November 15, 12:34 PM

After an encouraging rookie season in 2024, Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis has seen his role in his team's offense decline significantly so far in 2025. Through nine games, Davis has logged just 24 carries for 44 yards. The 26-year-old logged seven offensive snaps in Buffalo's Week 10 loss to Miami and has played double-digit snaps in only three games this season. With Bills running backs James Cook and Ty Johnson both healthy and ready to go for the team's Week 11 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there's not much reason for fantasy managers to think Davis' role will be significantly different. Davis maintains some value as a handcuff option for Cook, but he's not worth starting in fantasy in Week 11.

Friday, November 21, 9:36 AM

Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, out of Arizona, has seen his role decrease over the past few weeks. Chris Rodriguez Jr. saw a season-high 15 carries in Week 11 and ran for a very solid 5.27 YPC. Meanwhile, Croskey-Merritt saw a 27 percent snap share, and although he carried the ball nine times and caught one pass, it all added up to 33 all-purpose yards (3.11 YPC) against the Miami Dolphins in Spain. The Commanders are on a bye in Week 12, and it appears that this running back room is starting to shape out in a way where Rodriguez will get a bulk of the carries, Croskey-Merrritt will be the change of pace back, and Jeremy McNichols will get mixed in as the pass-catching option. Knowing all of this, it makes Rodriguez the clear running back to own in this backfield, and Croskey-Merritt can be dropped to the waiver wire if your team is in a pinch and you need to fill the roster spot with someone that can help you win now. In Week 13, the Commanders get the Denver Broncos, where none of the running backs will be a recommended start, as the Broncos' defense ranks top 5 in points allowed against opposing running backs.