Commanders vs. Packers TNF Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Zach Ertz, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Austin Ekeler, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Terry McLaurin, Romeo Doubs

September 11, 2025

Fantasy football start em, sit em lineups advice for the Commanders vs. Packers Thursday game in Week 2 (2025). NFL matchups analysis and TNF starts/sits for Week 2.

I'm not quite sure that Week 2 Thursday Night Football can come close to matching the entertainment that we had with the kickoff game last week. After Spit-Gate, a lightning delay, one amazing half of offensive football, and one amazing half of defensive football, something really strange would have to happen this week between the Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers to top that.

But this is still an outstanding Thursday Night game. We are far removed from the Tennessee Titans-Jacksonville Jaguars matchups of yesteryear. The Commanders and Packers are two teams projected to make the NFC playoffs, and both looked dominant in their opening games last week. Who will be able to keep up the momentum and move to 2-0?

I will bring you Thursday Night Football analysis all season, focusing on who to start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench. Let's dive into this second Thursday night matchup for the 2025 season. You can also check out our main Week 2 start 'em, sit 'em matchups article for all other games. Good luck in your fantasy football week, RotoBallers!

Washington Commanders @ Green Bay Packers

Thursday, September 11th, 8:15 PM ET

Notable Injuries:

• Austin Ekeler (WSH) - RB - Questionable (Shoulder)
• Jayden Reed (GB) - WR - Questionable (Foot)
• Dontayvion Wicks (GB) - WR - Questionable (Calf)

Commanders vs. Packers Matchup Breakdown

Washington and Green Bay beat their respective intradivisional opponents by a combined 29 points in Week 1. While both offenses seemed to have highlights throughout the game, it was their defenses that looked like the best units on the field. The Commanders and the Packers both ranked in the top six in fewest yards allowed and fewest points allowed. Neither allowed more than 64 rushing yards.

A Thursday night matchup between two NFC teams with Super Bowl aspirations 🍿

WASvsGB– Thursday 8:15pm ET on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3Sjeh3a7DM

— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2025

That factors into this game because both will have significant offensive tests on Thursday night. Washington will have to deal with a lot more than just Malik Nabers when Green Bay rolls out a plethora of pass-catchers, as well as Josh Jacobs, against them.

Green Bay could send a ferocious pass rush and double cover on dropbacks in Week 1 because Jared Goff wasn't going to run anywhere on them. Jayden Daniels will give them that dual-threat gambit that will be a big test for Micah Parsons and the Packers.

After the Packers shut down the combo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs last week, the thing that interests me most in this game is if Ekeler and Bill Croskey-Merritt can generate any kind of consistency on the ground and in the short passing game. That might be the key to breaking through Green Bay's potent defensive line and pass rush.

Must-Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Jayden Daniels (QB, WSH)

This offense for Washington is going to revolve around what Daniels can do, for better or for worse. He had 41 combined pass attempts and rush attempts on Sunday, accounting for 300 total yards and one passing touchdown.

He is a candidate to get 100 yards rushing in any given game, and now has added Deebo Samuel Sr. to a strong passing attack as a gadget weapon. I expect Daniels to be scrambling a lot in this game, which raises his floor and makes him a must-start.

Terry McLaurin (WR, WSH)

McLaurin saw only four targets on Sunday, catching just two passes for 27 yards. Should we blame that on McLaurin missing most of camp? Is it regression? Or just a small sample size?

McLaurin was Daniels' number one weapon in 2024, so he won't be held with two catches for two long. In fact, coming in as underdogs on the road, we might see more of the McLaurin and Samuel combo in this game.

Deebo Samuel Sr. (WR, WSH)

New addition Samuel made an immediate impact in Week 1, catching seven of 10 targets for 77 yards. He also ran in a 19-yard touchdown, helping him to the top skill-position fantasy score for the Commanders against the New York Giants.

It's clear that Samuel is just what the Commanders needed. Someone with speed who can handle the middle of the field touches while McLaurin goes long, and the running backs handle the ground game.

Deebo Samuel: First game with Commanders.

7 catches, 77 receiving yards, 19 rushing yards with a TD

22.6 fantasy points
84% routes
35% targets (10)
75% slot 👀
20% screens

Might not be fat and washed, y'all! Perfect fit in this Kingsbury scheme. In the WR2 convo, imo.

— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) September 7, 2025

Josh Jacobs (RB, GB)

Jacobs is the engine that makes this Green Bay offense go. On Sunday against Detroit, he amassed 20 touches, while no other player for Green Bay had more than three. Anyone who predicted that the Packers' offense would skew more pass-friendly in 2025 will have to wait for another week.

Jacobs is one of the true bell cow backs in the league, as he scored the only rushing touchdown and hoarded 20 of the 23 touches that went to running backs for Green Bay.

Tucker Kraft (TE, GB)

Even though it was only four targets, Kraft was top-two on this team in looks from Jordan Love in Week 1. Kraft got one of the five targets in the red zone on Sunday, and he caught the lone passing touchdown from Love.

We know from Kraft's 2024 profile that he is a red zone weapon (his 13 targets in 2024 were 12th among tight ends). That alone makes him a solid option at a weak position, but Kraft also played literally 100% of the Packers' snaps on Sunday, and is the most trusted player at that position.

Possible Starts for Fantasy Football Lineups

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB, WSH)

So much for being listed as the RB4 on the Washington depth chart, I guess? In his first NFL game, Croskey-Merrit (JCM) led the Commanders with 10 rush attempts and 82 rushing yards. He also had a target and scored a very nice rushing touchdown.

He was only on the field for 33% of the snaps, so imagine what a player like this could do if he were on the field for half the game. Perhaps most importantly, JCM saw the same number of red zone touches as Ekeler in this game.

Austin Ekeler (RB, WSH)

Ekeler was the nominal RB1 in the last game, as he started, played the most snaps, saw six rush attempts, and caught all three of his targets. His 57 total yards were nothing to write home about, but he was not needed in the fourth quarter, and still managed to get over 4.3 yards per carry on his attempts.

He won't find the rushing lanes open very often against Green Bay, but he should be able to do enough in the passing game to make him a worthy Flex start.

Jordan Love (QB, GB)

I would call Love a borderline starter this week against a good Washington defense. However, he is at home, the Packers are favored by 3.5 points, and Love is developing a nice rapport with Tucker Kraft and Matthew Golden.

Love wasn't needed much against Detroit, but he was fifth in adjusted air yards per attempt last season, so he can bomb it when needed against this Washington defense.

Romeo Doubs (WR, GB)

Doubs played on 97% of his team's snaps on Sunday, and no other wide receiver was in on more than 67%. It's clear who the alpha is right now in that group, as Doubs led the team in receiving yards, yards per reception, and red zone targets.

The only concern here for Doubs is if there will be enough volume to make him a clear must-start this week. It's a tough decision to make on a Thursday night, the first game of the week. But if any wide receiver on this team is going to pop off, it's likely to be Doubs right now.

Jordan Love going DEEP to Romeo Doubs 🎯

DETvsGB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/3rl3BJGCL8

— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025

Jayden Reed (WR, GB)

Reed specializes in speed, yards after the catch ability, and the ability to win routes all over the field. He caught the one passing touchdown on Sunday from Love and led the team with five targets.

He only played 51% of the team's snaps, which is the one thing holding him back from being a set-it-and-forget-it start in our fantasy football lineups.

Matthew Golden (WR, GB)

It was a very weak debut for rookie Golden on Sunday. He saw just two targets and caught them both for only 16 yards. However, only Doubs played more snaps than Golden among wide receivers, so a higher target rate should come if he keeps himself on the field for 70% of snaps.

This is a player who should ascend throughout the year, especially as the Packers begin to face easier defenses.

Consider Sitting for Fantasy Football Lineups

Jeremy McNichols (RB, WSH)

Even with Chris Rodriguez Jr. a healthy scratch in Week 1, McNichols could not carve out a role beyond RB2 in this Washington backfield. He was on the field for just 19% of the snaps and had one single rushing attempt in the game.

With two guys ahead of him and a stout run defense on the other side, don't expect much out of McNichols.

Zach Ertz (TE, WSH)

Ertz was second on the team with five targets against the New York Giants, and he caught Daniels' lone touchdown pass. However, the Packers only allowed 7.1 fantasy points per game to the position last year, including just four touchdowns all season.

With Parsons in town and Samuel the more versatile player, I'm not counting on the almost 35-year-old Ertz in my tight end spot.

Zach Ertz finished as the TE7 last season but went undrafted in fantasy drafts this year.

Is he worth a pickup? 🤔pic.twitter.com/cCNt8No3vr

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) September 7, 2025

Dontayvion Wicks (WR, GB)

Wicks is questionable for Thursday night with a calf injury he picked up on Sunday. But even if he were fully healthy, he was not in the top four or five of offensive options for the Packers last week. He finished with just two targets and three fantasy points against Detroit.

Kirksey’s Thursday Night Football Picks

Current Spread: GB -3.5
Over/Under: 48.5

The Packers are an elite unit up front and have playmakers in the secondary. The Commanders are learning that some of the ultra-efficiency they had last year on offense might regress, even when they play teams like the New York Giants in Week 1.

This, plus the Commanders' strong unit in the trenches, has me clearly taking the under in this game. If Green Bay can keep Daniels from scrambling all over the place, they should be able to contain the Commanders at home.

Only Nabers was able to find any sort of production on offense against the Commanders in Week 1, and that was only because he was force-fed 12 targets (and managed 71 yards). The Packers don't have any receivers of that caliber, which leads me to think this will be a lower-scoring game despite the talent on both sides. Give me the Packers winning 24-20.

The Pick: GB -3.5, UNDER 48.5

2025 Overall Record:
Spread (0-1), Over/Under (0-1)

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