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Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt the Commanders starter RB1, when should you draft Croskey-Merritt for fantasy football? Read the updated 2025 fantasy football outlook.
The Washington Commanders' backfield has been at the center of many discussions during the preseason. This past week, the Commanders traded presumed starter Brian Robinson Jr., which leaves veteran Austin Ekeler and potentially seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the lead options.
During the preseason, the seventh-round rookie looked rather impressive and is making a strong case to claim the starting role.
Should fantasy managers view Croskey-Merritt as the starting running back in D.C? Let's dive in!
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Fantasy Football Update
Croskey-Merritt was held out of action during their preseason finale this past weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. While Croskey-Merritt was diagnosed with a minor shoulder injury leading up to this game, seeing him rest alongside several key starters like Jayden Daniels and Deebo Samuel Sr. suggests the coaching staff may view Croskey-Merritt on that same level.
Instead, third-stringer Chris Rodriguez Jr. was given the start.
Interesting to see Chris Rodriguez getting these carries and Bill not expected to play. Might tell the RB depth chart story
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 23, 2025
In their second preseason contest, Croskey-Merritt looked quite impressive, totaling 46 yards and a touchdown on just 11 attempts. In his preseason debut, Croskey-Merritt tallied 24 yards on seven attempts.
Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, leading up to the regular season, in case this injury begins to linger. However, seeing him rest alongside the starting players suggests Croskey-Merritt is viewed as the lead running back in the backfield.
Should I Draft Jacory Croskey-Merritt for Fantasy Football?
Fantasy managers looking for a potential starting running back past pick 120 should look to target Croskey-Merritt. Since August 10, Croskey-Merritt has seen his ADP surge on platforms like NFFC, but his price tag is still very affordable.
During this range, Croskey-Merritt is being drafted as the RB44 and holds an ADP of 141.6. The Arizona product is still being selected after rookie running backs that have serious questions around their potential outlook, like Jaydon Blue, Cam Skattebo, and Quinshon Judkins.
With Robinson now in San Francisco, Croskey-Merritt should not face much competition to open the season as the RB1. Seeing Rodriguez suit up in the preseason suggests he has a precise hold on the No. 3 job, while Ekeler will continue to operate as the No. 2 option, primarily in a third-down role.
Last season, Ekeler typically replaced Robinson on passing downs, and that role will likely be filled again this season with Croskey-Merritt as the lead back.
Given his current ADP, the seventh-round rookie is one of the best values in drafts. He is a strong running back to add to your team, as he could be placed immediately in your starting lineup in the opening week when the Commanders face the New York Giants. Managers who tend to enact a "zero-RB" strategy should look to target Croskey-Merritt in the middle rounds.
Croskey-Merritt will have the advantage of playing in one of the most potent offenses in the sport, which his led by second-year QB Jayden Daniels. In his debut season, Daniels led the Commanders to the NFC Championship, to a top-5 offense in terms of points-per-game and a top-6 offense when looking at average yards per game.
Even though wideout Terry McLaurin could be in danger of missing the start of the season due to a holdout, this Washington offense should still be among the top of the league.
Given his excellent offense environment and potential to take on double-digit attempts each week, he is a top rookie running back to select. Do not be surprised if his ADP continues to surge over the final week as we approach the regular season.
Jayden Daniels made sure rookie Bill Croskey-Merritt got his touchdown ball ❤️ pic.twitter.com/158mOHVvyG
— ESPN (@espn) August 19, 2025
Who Should I Draft Tool
Looking for advice on whether to draft Jacory Croskey-Merritt or someone else? Check out our free Who Should I Draft tool.
Compare up to four players and we'll tell you who to draft...
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Draft
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Draft tool for 2025 drafts for Jacory Croskey-Merritt:
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