Jacory Croskey-Merritt Start or Sit Advice for Week 1
After gaining a ton of buzz last summer, Croskey-Merritt was an inconsistent fantasy option in his rookie season. The Arizona product averaged just 8.8 FPTS per game and finished as the No.30 scoring running back for fantasy. Croskey-Merritt only scored double-digit FPTS in 5-of-17 games, but he did have outings of 25.5 and 31 FPTS.
Croskey-Merritt averaged a strong 4.6 YPC and he rushed for eight touchdowns, but the problem was his lack of usage in the passing game. Croskey-Merritt only caught nine passes for 68 yards. The back only ran a route on 28% of the team’s dropbacks and he saw a target on just 8% of those routes.
Given Croskey-Merritt’s lack of involvement on passing downs, he didn’t provide much in games that the Commanders trailed, which was often. Croskey-Merritt averaged 14.8 FPTS per game in Washington’s five wins, but just 6.2 FPTS per game in the team’s 12 losses.
The Commanders did make a change at OC, going from Kliff Kingsbury to first-timer David Blough, so maybe the latter has plans to grow Crosky-Merritt’s pass catching role. Then again, the team brought in Rachaad White this offseason, who has always been a reliable receiver out of the backfield throughout his career. With the Buccaneers last season, White caught 40-of-42 targets for 208 yards, giving him the second-best catch rate among backs (95.2%).
White’s work as a receiver absolutely was a big part in the Commanders signing him and the veteran should handle most of the passing downs this season. Additionally, White averaged 4.3 YPC last season, so he should see some carries behind Croskey-Merritt.
All in all, Croskey-Merritt figures to be in a similar situation this season, as primarily a rusher who tends to only fare well when he is fed the rock in positive game scripts, but conversely struggles mightily in negative game scripts. Unfortunately for Crosky-Merritt, the Commanders figure to be trailing often in this Sunday’s season opener vs. the Eagles with Washington being a 5.5-point underdog on DraftKings Sportsbook.
If Philadelphia gets ahead early on it’s home field, Croskey-Merritt could end up seeing single-digit touches in this tilt. The back only scored 8.5 and 2.9 FPTS in his two matchups vs. the Eagles last season and Croskey-Merritt should disappoint again Sunday.
