Who Should I Start? Zach Charbonnet or Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Monday, September 8, 3:48 AM

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet hit paydirt early in the second quarter on Sunday to put his team's first points of the 2025 season on the board. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Charbonnet's touchdown was the only one the team scored in their 17-13 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested prior to the game that Seattle would lean on Charbonnet more frequently on Sunday than they had in his past two seasons. That was exactly what played out in Week 1, with Charbonnet outsnapping Kenneth Walker III 30 to 21 and taking the lead in carries and rushing yards, with 12 rushes for 47 yards. Walker's injury history makes Charbonnet a top-tier handcuff, but if this new usage continues, Seattle's backfield might be the latest to produce two stand-alone fantasy producers. The Seahawks are on the road against the Steelers in Week 2.

Sunday, September 7, 9:53 AM

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been gaining traction throughout training camp and the preseason. The trade of Brian Robinson Jr. has given Croskey-Merritt a clear path to playing time in Washington. The Commanders have stated that Croskey-Merritt will be involved during the season opener. However, it's unclear how much he'll actually play in this game. The Commanders have four backs that they'll probably mix in at some point. Croskey-Merritt is a great stash, but his Week 1 outlook is hard to predict. He's probably best served on the fantasy benches until he has a proven role in the offense.