Never mind Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton; arguably the best rookie running back has actually been a seventh-round pick, the Washington Commanders’ Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Croskey-Merritt excelled so much in training camp that Washington was willing to move on from last season’s starter, Brian Robinson Jr., and broke out in Week 1 with a 10-carry, 82-yard, one-score performance. Through three weeks, he has the third-highest overall grade among running backs at PFF (behind another rookie, Cam Skattebo) and the best rushing grade. The Commanders have been surprisingly competitive on the ground despite veteran Austin Ekeler tearing his Achilles in Week 2.
Croskey-Merritt is dealing with a knee injury, though, and hasn’t practiced all week. If he can’t go, Washington’s backfield will be led by a combination of Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols, the latter of whom actually has the league’s second-highest PFF rushing grade. This season, Rodriguez has turned his 11 carries into 39 yards, while McNichols has taken eight carries for 103 yards and a score. Rodriguez actually led the team in rushing attempts in the Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, even though Croskey-Merritt was on the field for one more snap. Rodriguez’s rushing grade (77.1) was virtually identical to Croskey-Merritt’s (77.4) in Week 3, so the team should be in good hands even if Croskey-Merritt can’t play.
Rodriguez could be worth a start on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, but it depends on who the Commanders’ signal-caller is. Jayden Daniels attempted 30 passes and 11 runs in Week 1 and 42 passes and seven runs in Week 2, and while Marcus Mariota attempted only 21 passes and six runs in Week 3. Daniels has been limited all week in practice as he continues to recover from a knee sprain and his status for Sunday’s contest is up in the air. If he and Terry McLaurin both play, I’d expect Washington’s offense to be pass-heavy enough that Rodriguez won’t be worth starting, especially since the Falcons’ secondary isn’t great besides Jessie Bates II, but he should be the lead back over McNichols if Mariota lines up under center.
If he does get, say, 15 carries, he should be pretty effective, given his efficiency throughout the course of his career. In both 2023 and 2024, he averaged at least 4.8 yards per carry, which would have ranked in the top 10 both seasons if he’d taken enough carries to qualify. Plus, Atlanta has had just the 23rd-highest rush defense grade.
There are just too many questions for me to feel comfortable recommending him. The only way he gets 15 carries is if Daniels, McLaurin, and Croskey-Merritt all don’t play, and the Commanders are too deep for him to be worth a start otherwise.
