RADIO
David Blough's Offense Could Suit Rachaad White Well
The NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says that new Washington Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough's offense should suit running back Rachaad White well in 2026. White's name came up a few times during Garafolo's visit to the Commanders' mandatory minicamp on Wednesday. The 27-year-old signed a one-year deal with Washington back in March, and although second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the obvious choice to lead the team's backfield after he led the team in rushing in his rookie campaign in 2025, White will have his chance to compete for a bigger role that he had behind Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay over the last couple of seasons. In his four years with the Bucs, White averaged 3.9 yards per carry and had 2,656 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, adding 205 receptions for 1,450 yards and 11 receiving TDs. Head coach Dan Quinn has been impressed with White's abilities as a pass-catcher during offseason practices, something that Croskey-Merritt needs to work on. At the very least, White will be an RB3/flex sleeper in PPR leagues, with the potential for an even bigger role if JCM takes a step back in Year 2.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Dan Quinn Likes Rachaad White's Ability as a Pass-Catcher
Commanders.com's Zach Selby writes that Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn likes the competition in the running back room during offseason workouts. Quinn mentioned Rachaad White specifically and his ability as a pass-catcher. It's unclear yet if there will be one designated starter, but multiple players will play a part in the team's rushing attack in 2026. Second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt could be the odds-on-favorite for lead-back duties in D.C. after leading the squad with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries in 17 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign. However, the 25-year-old needs to work on his pass protection (he only caught nine passes for 68 yards) and his ball security in order to do so. Meanwhile, White has the most experience as a dual-threat back in the NFL, even if he has averaged under 4.0 yards per carry as a ball-carrier in his four years in the league. In PPR leagues, White will be a sneaky RB3/flex target with upside in his new digs, although his ADP could rise quickly if he begins to gain more steam over Croskey-Merritt in training camp this summer.
Source: Commanders.com - Zach Selby
Source: Commanders.com - Zach Selby
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Returns to Practice This Week
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed), who missed voluntary organized team activities due to an undisclosed soft-tissue injury, returned to practice on Tuesday, according to John Keim of ESPN. While Croskey-Merritt has the clearest path to the RB1 role in Washington in 2026 in his second year in the NFL, head coach Dan Quinn has mentioned that the former seventh-rounder out of the University of Arizona needs to show what he can do in pass protection, among other areas. The 25-year-old could also stand to improve his ball security going into Year 2 as he looks to hold off Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, rookie Kaytron Allen, and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt averaged 4.6 yards per carry for a team-high 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries in 2025 in his rookie campaign, but he barely contributed as a pass-catcher with only nine receptions for 68 yards in 17 games (seven starts). Bill's role as the clear lead back in D.C. isn't solidified yet, but he's the best fantasy target in the Commanders' backfield in 2026 as an RB3/flex with upside, primarily in standard-scoring formats.
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Antonio Williams Has a Chance to Learn From One of the Best
When the Washington Commanders selected wide receiver Antonio Williams in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he landed on one of the thinner depth charts in the league with a chance to learn from one of the greatest to ever play his position. The Commanders hired four-time All-Pro receiver Wes Welker as a personnel analyst in 2025 and have made him an offensive assistant for the 2026 season. With Williams expected to operate primarily out of the slot, as he did in college, Welker's guidance could become invaluable after collecting more than 900 receptions in a 12-year career as arguably the most respected slot receiver in the league. New offensive coordinator David Blough is expected to run a variant of the Ben Johnson offense he was a part of as the Lions' backup quarterback, and even if that means a move toward more heavy personnel packages with fewer receivers on the field, the Commanders lack every-down mainstays outside of veteran Terry McLaurin. At 5'11" and 190 pounds, Williams is a willing blocker, and while his more natural position remains at the slot, he'll need to beat out only Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and Treylon Burks to earn an early role in two-receiver sets.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Jayden Daniels Still Become the Dynasty QB1?
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels followed up his 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning season with a disappointing, injury-marred campaign in 2025. Now heading into his third season with improved weaponry and a new offensive scheme, Daniels has potentially become one of the best bargains in dynasty. The Commanders have added tight end Chig Okonkwo, running back Rachaad White, and third-round rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams to round out an offense that expects to have two-time Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin back at full health after missing seven games in 2025. With new offensive coordinator David Blough borrowing elements from the Ben Johnson system that he ran as a backup quarterback in Detroit, Daniels is expected to spend more time under center, which should open up the passing game without diminishing what he can do with his legs. A year after coming off the board as early as first overall in some superflex dynasty startups, Daniels has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty QB3, but is a good bet to work his way back into the QB1 conversation if he can stay healthy in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rachaad White to be Involved in Committee Backfield in Washington?
Zach Selby of Commanders.com writes that new running back Rachaad White is one of several RBs in the Washington Commanders' committee approach to the backfield heading into the 2026 season. White, a third-rounder by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 out of Arizona State, was relegated to a backup role behind Bucky Irving in the second half of his rookie deal. The 27-year-old has mostly been lauded as a pass-catcher in his four-year NFL career, having hauled in 205 passes (230 targets) for 1,450 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in 67 total games (48 starts) with the Bucs. White said that Washington's RB room is "loaded" with players who can fit different roles. Second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the best chance to become the Commanders' lead back, with White as the primary pass-catcher. However, the team also has Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and rookie Kaytron Allen fighting for roles. White will probably only be worth considering as a late-round option for depth at the RB position in point-per-reception formats in 2026 in his first year in D.C. RotoBaller has White ranked as the No. 41 RB in PPR setups, just two spots in front of Croskey-Merritt.
Source: Commanders.com - Zach Selby
Source: Commanders.com - Zach Selby
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has Best Shot to Become Commanders Lead Back?
Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has missed some offseason work due to a soft-tissue injury, has the best chance to become the team's lead back in 2026, according to Zach Selby of Commanders.com. Croskey-Merritt, also known as Bill, has "quickness on the outside and has enough burst to run through creases at the line of scrimmage." The 25-year-old rushed for 805 yards in 2025, third in his draft class, and added eight touchdowns on 175 carries over 17 games (seven starts). JCM must still improve in pass protection, but he showed plenty of patience and decisiveness as a ball-carrier despite not being taken until the seventh round in the 2025 NFL draft. Croskey-Merritt was used sparingly as a pass-catcher as a rookie, hauling in nine passes on just 13 targets for 68 yards. Newcomer Rachaad White will most likely operate as Washington's primary pass-catching back, with Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols providing veteran depth. Ball security was another issue for JCM as a rookie, and if those issues resurface in Year 2, he could quickly lose touches to White, Ford, and McNichols. Fantasy managers should consider Croskey-Merritt as an RB3/4 with upside if he proves himself more in passing situations.
Source: Commanders.com - Zach Selby
Source: Commanders.com - Zach Selby
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Missing OTAs With Soft-Tissue Injury
According to Ben Standig of Last Man Standig, Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) is missing valuable repetitions during organized team activities this offseason due to a soft-tissue injury. It's unclear what exactly Croskey-Merritt is dealing with or whether he'll be ready to return for the team's mandatory minicamp that runs from June 16-18. Bill has the opportunity to become Washington's clear lead back in Year 2 in 2026, but to do so, he'll need to improve his ball security and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford slot in behind Croskey-Merritt in Washington's RB room, but JCM is the only one of the group with a realistic chance for lead-back duties. The 25-year-old former seventh-rounder out of the University of Arizona worked his way into a big role in his first NFL campaign in D.C., rushing for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries while adding nine receptions for 68 yards. Because he won't be guaranteed a three-down role, though, fantasy managers should target JCM as more of an RB3/flex in drafts this fall.
Source: Last Man Standig - Ben Standig
Source: Last Man Standig - Ben Standig
Chig Okonkwo has Been Impressive With New Team
Washington Commanders new tight end Chig Okonkwo has been impressive so far this offseason after signing a three-year deal in March in free agency, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala. Okonkwo possesses rare speed and versatility, and he also has a knack for picking up yards after the catch. Zach Ertz is now gone, so the Commanders will move forward with Okonkwo and Ben Sinnott in offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme. Jhabvala writes that Blough's offense will be an "amalgamation of his own football influences," which means that the Commanders could use a "heavy dose of multiple tight end sets" in 2026. The 26-year-old Okonkwo had a career-high 56 receptions for 560 yards on 79 targets in 2025 with the Tennessee Titans, but he had only two touchdowns and averaged 10 yards per catch in 17 games (12 starts). In D.C., he'll have more upside, although fantasy managers can wait and take him late in drafts as a TE2 with upside in his new digs. RotoBaller currently has Okonkwo ranked as the No. 20 fantasy TE for the upcoming season.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Terry McLaurin to Have More Versatility in David Blough's Offense
The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala writes that "no one sounds happier" about new offensive coordinator David Blough's scheme than Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. In his seven seasons in Washington, McLaurin has played for three other offensive coordinators with 13 starting quarterbacks. And in many of those circumstances, there have been plenty of questions as to why McLaurin wasn't involved more. But in Blough's offense, the 30-year-old said he'll "be used all over." "I think the multitude of formations and route combinations is going to give all of us flexibility to move around the formation, keep the defense on their toes, and have a lot of routes that may look similar at the stem but different at the top," McLaurin said last week. The former third-rounder in 2019 out of Ohio State couldn't get off the ground in 2025 due to injuries to both himself and QB Jayden Daniels, and he finished with career lows across the board in catches (38), yards (582), and touchdowns (three) in just 10 starts. Scary Terry could make for a great value pick for fantasy managers in 2026, though, with WR2 upside in a new scheme as he looks to bounce back in his eighth year in the NFL.
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Source: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
Rachaad White to Inherit the Primary Pass-Catching Role?
In his four years with the Buccaneers, Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White never caught fewer than 40 passes in a season, and with a one-year free agent contract bringing him to the nation's capital for 2026, the belief is that he will inherit the primary pass-catching role that was intended for Austin Ekeler over the past two seasons. Ekeler signed a two-year deal in 2024, but a serious concussion in 2024 and an early Achilles injury in 2025 limited him to just 14 games with the Commanders. That said, he still gathered in 40 total receptions in his abbreviated stint and saw at least three targets in nine of those 14 games. 2026 sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen never caught more than 18 passes in any of his four collegiate seasons, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt was limited to nine grabs as a rookie, leaving Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols, neither of whom is a roster lock at this point, as the most credible obstacles to a dedicated receiving role for White.
Source: Dan Graziano
Source: Dan Graziano
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Continues to Work Off to the Side During OTAs
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) continues to work on the side field during OTAs this week, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. It has been the case during all three sessions open to the media this week. It's unclear what Croskey-Merritt is dealing with, but he'll have another chance to get back on the field with the rest of his teammates during mandatory minicamp from June 16-18. After being taken in the seventh round last year, the 25-year-old saw 175 rushing attempts for 805 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns while adding nine receptions for 68 yards as a pass-catcher in 17 games (seven starts). Ball security and improving as a pass-catcher are things that Bill needs to do in Year 2 to hold off the likes of Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, Jeremy Nichols, and rookie sixth-rounder Kaytron Allen. At the very least, JCM should be Washington's early-down back in an offense that should improve if quarterback Jayden Daniels can stay healthy after an injury-plagued season. RotoBaller has Croskey-Merritt currently ranked as the No. 43 fantasy RB going into the 2026 season.
Source: The Athletic - Ben Standig
Source: The Athletic - Ben Standig
Terry McLaurin A Short-Term, High-Ceiling Dynasty Trade Target
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has played 26 games with quarterback Jayden Daniels over the past two seasons, and in those contests, he's averaged more than 12.2 half-PPR points per game. With injuries to both players limiting them to only nine games together in 2025, it's easy to overlook their chemistry from Daniels' 2024 rookie season, when they connected for 13 touchdown receptions. With both coming into 2026 with a clean bill of health, and new offensive coordinator David Blough not mincing words about his plans to run the offense through McLaurin, a reminder of that chemistry could be coming in short order. The Commanders added receiving depth through free agency with tight end Chig Okonkwo and running back Rachaad White, and spent a third-round pick on slot receiver Antonio Williams, but none of whom threaten to supplant McLaurin as the team's primary target-earner. Even at 30 years old, the eighth-year veteran could soon prove a bargain at his current ranking of RotoBaller's dynasty WR38.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Antonio Williams Poised for Dynasty Breakout in Washington?
After recording over 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns across his final two collegiate seasons at Clemson, wide receiver Antonio Williams was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. In Washington, Williams could be poised to make an immediate impact in a wide receiver room that lacks established NFL difference-makers behind veteran wideout Terry McLaurin. Williams profiles as a slot receiver who thrives with the ball in his hands in open space. That skill set could make him the perfect replacement for former Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., who collected 802 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns across 16 games with Washington in 2025. Perhaps most importantly, the Commanders appear to be in desperate need of a reliable pass-catcher to step up behind McLaurin and tight end Chig Okonkwo. Williams' main competition for targets and playing time entering training camp looks to be wide receivers Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and Van Jefferson. With a strong showing this summer, Williams' dynasty value could be in position to skyrocket over the course of his rookie season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Dynasty Managers Comfortably Drop Ben Sinnott?
Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott remains the No. 2 option on the depth chart, which hurts his fantasy outlook in dynasty leagues. Sinnott had patiently waited for an opportunity to handle more volume while he was behind Zach Ertz, catching just 16 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons. Just as it seemed like he was trending up with Ertz hitting free agency this offseason, the Commanders brought in new competition in the form of Chig Okonkwo. Given that Okonkwo is pretty safely penciled into the No. 1 tight end role, Sinnott will remain the backup option. That doesn't bode well for his fantasy value, especially since the Commanders ranked right near the league median in terms of 12 personnel usage last year. Sinnott has fallen to TE55 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings, which means he can be dropped in most leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
