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Should I pickup Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Jeremy McNichols as fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 16 of 2025? Read our fantasy football waiver wire outlooks.
The Washington Commanders are playing for pride. Jayden Daniels has been shut down for the rest of the season, and the team is trying to finish strong to build some momentum for the 2026 season.
The Commanders will have to unearth a few gems if they want to return to the NFC Championship Game next year, and their young running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and the veteran Jeremy McNichols could be solid pieces for them moving forward. McNichols has recorded 112 yards from scrimmage in the last five games, while the rookie Croskey-Merritt is finally back to being relevant in fantasy after a great performance against the Giants in Week 15.
Should you pick up Croskey-Merritt or McNichols in the waiver wire ahead of Week 16? Let's dive in.
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook
Having been drafted in the seventh round, very few people had expectations for Croskey-Merritt heading into his rookie season. However, the Brian Robinson Jr. trade to the 49ers opened the door for "Bill" to establish himself in the Commanders' RB room.
Bullet Bill 💨
📺 #WASvsNYG FOX pic.twitter.com/VZodTUyXZ4
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 14, 2025
He started the year off as a fantasy darling, rushing for 172 yards and two touchdowns in his first four games, which led to him becoming the team's starting running back.
He had a dominant 111-yard, two-touchdown game in his first start, and all seemed well in Washington. Unfortunately, injuries decimated their season, and Croskey-Merritt failed to replicate his early-season form, going scoreless in his next eight games.
Just as everyone was losing hope, Croskey-Merritt proved that he still has a bright future in the NFL, as he ran for 96 yards and a score.
Washington's final games will be against the Eagles (22nd-ranked run defense) and the Cowboys (second-worst defense), which could provide a nice opportunity for the rookie to end the year on a high note.
Jeremy McNichols Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook
The veteran McNichols got his first career start in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season, seven years after being drafted in the 2017 NFL Draft. McNichols had scored three times in the three games before his first start, and some fans thought a career renaissance could be on the horizon.
C-Rod is OUT - that sucks!
JCM likely gets first crack at the Washington touches but don’t sleep on Jeremy McNichols who has averaged 6.6 yards per carry and is the better receiver as well.
— "Thunder Dan" Palyo (@ThunderDanDFS) December 14, 2025
However, he only ran for 97 more yards from Week 8 to the end of the 2024 season, though he did score in the Commanders' shock Divisional Round victory over the Lions. He earned a one-year extension after the year, but failed to impress at the start of the 2025 season.
A three-game stretch from Week 10 to 13 impressed the team enough to hand him his second career start in Week 15. He had 10 touches for 22 yards against the Giants, and has racked up 112 yards from scrimmage in his last five games.
Despite the high volume, the game against the Giants was less than ideal, as he had a lost fumble and only averaged 0.7 yards per rushing attempt.
Should I Pickup Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Jeremy McNichols For Fantasy Football?
McNichols is fighting for another contract extension, but his poor performance against the Giants might have sealed his fate. Of course, there's a chance that he could impress against the Eagles and Cowboys, but it wouldn't be shocking if the team decided to stop giving him more touches down the stretch.
Croskey-Merritt started the year off as one of the hottest waiver wire adds, but has found his way back on waivers in most fantasy leagues. This is a great chance to add him to your roster, as the upcoming schedule is a great chance for him to add his name to the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation, as there are still no runaway favorites for the award.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
Trying to decide who to pick up off the waiver wire? Check the Who Should I Pickup tool here:
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to pickup...
Who Should I Pickup? Some common 2025 fantasy football waiver wire decisions are regarding players like Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed, Colston Loveland, and Michael Carter. But not to worry, we are here to help make these waiver wire decisions and build winning teams in 2025. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups in 2025. Our free Who Should I Pickup? tool will help make your fantasy football waiver wire decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to pick up... all free! Make the right decisions.
2025 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed, Colston Loveland, and Michael Carter.. These are some common searches for 2025 fantasy football waiver wire pickups.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool, but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Pickup? button to see who the recommended waiver wire pickups are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed, Colston Loveland, and Michael Carter.
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