Who Should I Start? Tee Higgins or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Saturday, October 11, 12:22 PM

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins hasn't looked the best throughout the first five weeks of the 2025 campaign. He has only 13 catches (27 targets) for 158 yards. Fortunately, the wideout has at least found the end zone twice, preventing him from being a complete bust for fantasy managers. In Higgins' defense, the Bengals offense has struggled, and it wasn't much better when Joe Burrow (toe) was healthy and on the field. With Joe Flacco, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Browns, getting the start for Sunday's meeting with the Packers, it's unknown how his presence will impact the offense. However, with only a few days to prepare, it's safe to assume Flacco's knowledge of the playbook will be limited. As such, Higgins may not be the safest fantasy option, especially with a challenging matchup on the horizon. On the other hand, that could change if Ja'Marr Chase (illness) suffers a setback and doesn't suit up.

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.