Who Should I Start? Tank Bigsby or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Saturday, September 13, 12:49 AM

The Philadelphia Eagles just traded for Tank Bigsby on Monday, and the former Jaguar is currently listed as the third running back on the depth chart. He was far outpaced by Travis Etienne Jr. in Jacksonville's first game, and was splitting touches with Bhayshul Tuten as well. Bigsby only managed 12 yards on five carries against the Panthers in Week 1, which clearly didn't impress the Jaguars front office enough to keep him on the roster. Eagles backup RB Will Shipley (rib) is officially out for the upcoming contest against Kansas City, clearing the runway a bit for Bigsby, but probably not enough for any real fantasy production. Shipley and AJ Dillon combined for 13 snaps on offense against Dallas last week, while Saquon Barkley totaled 50. With a star like Barkley ahead of him, Bigsby should not be considered for lineups in Week 2.

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.