To say that it has been an underwhelming season for rookie running backs would be an understatement. Quinshon Judkins is the lone first-year back that ranks inside the top 15 in rushing yards, as Ashton Jeanty has been pretty much held in check aside from one great performance against the Bears. Injuries derailed promising freshman campaigns for Omarion Hampton and Cam Skattebo; while TreVeyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson and RJ Harvey have mostly been relegated to RB2 duties.
However, if there has been one pleasant surprise in at the position, it’s been Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who vaulted from a seventh-round pick into a fantasy “sleeper” role as soon as an offseason trade sent Brian Robinson Jr. from Washington to San Francisco.
Croskey-Merritt is still operating as the Commanders’ lead back, but after back-to-back disappointing showings, can you keep trusting the rookie?
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Fantasy Outlook
Though it might not feel like it, Croskey-Merritt has actually seen the field more than he ever has before in the past two weeks. Despite being limited to 6.8 FPTS and 4.2 FPTS in Week 6 and Week 7, respectively, the rookie back logged his two highest snap shares of the season: 66.2% against the Bears and 49.3% against the Cowboys. However, that’s sort of where the good news ends.
While Croskey-Merritt is Washington’s No. 1 back, he remains in a committee that features both Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols — not to mentioned whichever dual-threat QB happens to be under center on a given week. In fact, Rodriguez vultured a goal line carry and a touchdown last Sunday, his team-leading ninth red zone rushing attempt of the season. Roll your eyes at the seldom used RB if you must, but just remember that Dan Quinn warned us in August that Rodriguez would be the team’s short yardage option.
If Rodriguez is the goal line threat, McNichols is the one taking away Croskey-Merritt’s passing game opportunities. The veteran has emerged as Washington’s third down RB in recent weeks, seeing a total of 11 targets in the past four contests. For some context, Croskey-Merritt has been held to 10 targets for seven receptions and 60 yards for the season as a whole. It’s not a massive concern when you’re operating in a positive script, like the Commanders were back in Week 5 versus the Chargers, when Croskey-Merritt rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns; but it also doesn’t bode well when you’re a double-digit road dog, like the Commanders are on Monday night.
It’s also not like it’s a great matchup, either. The Chiefs struggled to defend the run back in September, but the unit has seemingly shored up the issue, conceding only 77.3 opponent rushing yards per game dating back to Week 5. For 2025, Kansas City is surrendering the seventh-fewest FPTS per contest to opposing RBs, and the team hasn’t given up a rushing touchdown to a “lead” back since the aforementioned Skattebo back in Week 3. On “bye-mageddon” in a re-draft setting, I could see needing Croskey-Merritt as a FLEX this week. However, for DFS contests on DraftKings, I’d be avoiding the rookie at his $7,200 price tag.
