RADIO
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Carries Flex Appeal Against Dallas
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt handled most of the rushing work in Week 1, carrying 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. Rachaad White had seven carries and Kaytron Allen four, although the snaps were much closer, with Croskey-Merritt playing 34 and White 29. There are still reasons to be careful. Croskey-Merritt caught one pass for minus-seven yards, while White remained involved in the passing game, and Croskey-Merritt did not return after fumbling late in the fourth quarter. Allen handled the final drive. The matchup gives him a decent chance to stay involved, though. Dallas allowed 165 rushing yards to the Giants in Week 1, including 81 yards and a touchdown to Cam Skattebo. Croskey-Merritt is not a locked-in starter with Washington still using multiple backs, but the carry share and matchup make him a reasonable flex option for Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rachaad White Profiles as RB3 Option in Week 2 at Cowboys
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White was quiet in the Week 1 loss to the Eagles, handling seven carries for 22 yards and adding two receptions (two targets) for five yards. White wasn't able to create much with his opportunities against a tough defense and was firmly behind second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the team's primary runner. The former Buccaneer played 40.3% of the offense's snaps compared to 49.3% for Croskey-Merritt, and it's worth noting that Croskey-Merritt didn't return after his fumble on Washington's final drive. Washington will likely continue to operate with a split backfield in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, who got lit up by the Giants in their season opener. Dallas allowed 4.5 yards per carry and four catches to running backs, potentially setting White up for a productive day. White projects as a low-end flex for Week 2, ranking as RotoBaller's RB42 in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Projects Favorably Against Cowboys
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was productive as the team's lead back in the season opener against the Eagles, rushing for 63 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The second-year back handled 16 of 27 carries by Washington running backs and notably didn't see the field again after fumbling on the team's final drive. Rookie Kaytron Allen replaced Croskey-Merritt on the final drive, and after fumbling four times as a rookie, he could start to cede work to the rookie if it continues. However, Croskey-Merritt is still the team's most dynamic and explosive rusher and could be primed for a good day on the ground in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas just allowed Cam Skattebo and the Giants to run for 165 yards on 4.5 yards per carry in Week 1, making Croskey-Merritt a solid flex option in Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rachaad White's Inefficiency and Low Volume a Major Concern
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White appears to be solidified as the team's clear No. 2 option out of the backfield. There was some speculation that he was signed to compete for Jacory Croskey-Merritt's lead-back role, but there was a clear gap between the two in Week 1, as White rushed for just 22 yards on seven carries. His low volume and lack of efficiency make him an unappealing fantasy option going forward. His role as a handcuff makes him a worthwhile stash in most leagues, but he does not belong in starting lineups as long as Croskey-Merritt is healthy. RotoBaller's fantasy football experts agree, dropping him to RB41 in their latest rankings for half-PPR leagues ahead of Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Takes Early Lead in Washington Backfield
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt didn't take over the backfield in Week 1, but the rushing split was hard to miss. He carried 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. Rachaad White had seven carries, while rookie Kaytron Allen had four. The snaps were much closer, with Croskey-Merritt at 49% and White at 41%, so White isn't disappearing from this offense. He also caught both of his targets, while Croskey-Merritt's only reception went for minus-seven yards. Still, Washington gave Croskey-Merritt 16 of its 27 running back carries, and he punched in a one-yard touchdown late in the first half. He did put the ball on the ground once, though the Commanders recovered it. Croskey-Merritt was already listed first on the depth chart before the opener. The game told us more than the depth chart did. For now, he looks like the back Washington wants handling most of the rushing work.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaytron Allen Carving Out Role Despite No. 3 Spot on Depth Chart
Washington Commanders running back Kaytron Allen was able to carve out a role in Week 1, despite ranking third on the depth chart behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. It wasn't the prettiest or flashiest performance, but his four rushing attempts for 10 yards ranked ahead of many other teams' No. 3 running backs in terms of involvement. It was very encouraging to see the Commanders carve out playing time (10% of snaps) for the rookie in the season opener, as it indicates that his role could only grow going forward. Managers in deeper leagues should consider adding Allen off the waiver wire now, because if his role continues to grow, there will be more competition to get him on fantasy rosters. There's a very real chance that the rookie's fantasy stock will never be lower than it is right now, so managers are advised to get in on the ground floor.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rachaad White in Flex Territory for Week 1
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White has been a reliable fantasy producer over the last few seasons, with some upside mixed in at times. The 27-year-old finished as high as the RB10 in PPR/G in 2023, recording the fourth most receptions among running backs in the league that season with 64. White's inefficiencies as a runner have limited his overall upside to this point in his career, though he's still one of the most effective pass-catching backs in the league. Washington's offense missed the receiving ability of RB Austin Ekeler after he got injured early last season, which is the role that White is now aiming to fill. Jayden Daniels doesn't throw to his running backs at an extreme rate. Still, Ekeler played 17 total games with the Commanders (including playoffs) and averaged 3.7 targets and 3.1 catches per game, which are similar to White's career numbers. It remains to be seen how White works into the offense alongside Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but White is expected to play an important role early. White has a challenging matchup in Week 1 against the Eagles, ranking as RotoBaller's RB35 in PPR leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt in FLEX Range for Season Opener vs. Philly
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) is off the injury report and set to play in the season opener versus the Philadelphia Eagles. The second-year back looks primed to be the team's primary runner, with the expectation of working more into the pass game. The coaching staff wanted to see improvement in Croskey-Merritt's receiving and pass protection, and training camp reviews were largely positive in both areas. After rushing for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns on limited touches last season, Croskey-Merritt has an opportunity to take another step in Washington's offense alongside a fully healthy Jayden Daniels. Free-agent signing Rachaad White is expected to play an impactful role as well thanks to his receiving skills, though he is not nearly as efficient or explosive a rusher as Croskey-Merritt. The 25-year-old faces a stiff test in Week 1 against a stout Eagles front seven, though he still offers FLEX value with guaranteed touches and touchdown upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Cleared to Play Sunday
After dealing with a groin injury that limited him in both Wednesday and Thursday's practices, Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) has been cleared to play in Sunday's season-opener against the Eagles, according to head coach Dan Quinn. As a seventh-round rookie in 2025, Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and eight touchdowns, ranking as one of the league's most efficient backs on plays run from under center. With new offensive coordinator David Blough expected to call more such plays, and the second-year runner entering the year with a clean bill of health, Croskey-Merritt has Week 1 flex appeal despite a tough opening matchup. While free-agent acquisition Rachaad White is expected to see much of the Commanders' passing-down work, Croskey-Merritt still profiles as the team's early-down back and should stay involved as long as the game remains close, making him RotoBaller's RB35 for Week 1.
Source: Zach Selby
Source: Zach Selby
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Remains Limited in Practice
Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) was limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day as the team continues to prepare for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Croskey-Merritt could end up questionable for the season opener due to a groin injury he picked up in practice on Aug. 22 if he does not upgrade to a full practice on Friday. If JCM is limited or out, it would be a big upgrade for Rachaad White as the Commanders' lead back in his debut with the team this weekend. The 25-year-old Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round pick out of Arizona last year, but he impressed by leading Washington with 805 yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 175 rushing attempts, adding nine catches for 68 yards through the air in 17 games. The Commanders like him as their primary early-down back, but White will steal plenty of pass-game work, leaving JCM as primarily an RB3/flex option with upside for fantasy managers in Year 2. Check back for his official Week 1 status on Friday.
Source: Washington Commanders
Source: Washington Commanders
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Limited with a Groin Issue
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. For the most part, the Commanders have a healthy roster heading into Week 1, but Croskey-Merritt is one of the few exceptions. Given that he wasn't able to log a full practice to kick off the week, there's a chance that the 25-year-old could miss Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fantasy managers should monitor his status in practice over the next two days. If he upgrades to a full practice, he should be cleared to play in the season opener. Otherwise, he'll likely carry an injury designation into the weekend. If he can't play in this divisional battle, Rachaad White would step up as the lead back, likely ranking as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football.
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Keeps Building His Case for More Work
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has made a stronger case for more work heading into Year 2. The rushing production was already there after he turned 175 carries into 805 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie, but the bigger development this summer has come without the ball. Washington senior writer Zach Selby called Croskey-Merritt's pass protection arguably the biggest thing that stood out during a good camp, and that matters after those struggles cost him snaps at times last season. Dan Quinn has also praised the progress he's made as a receiver. A late-August groin injury interrupted things for a bit, but Croskey-Merritt was back on the practice field Sept. 1 and spoke with reporters after practice two days later. Rachaad White still gives Washington another option, especially on passing downs, so this is not suddenly a one-back setup. Still, RotoBaller has moved Croskey-Merritt from RB43 earlier this offseason to RB37 in its Sept. 6 half-PPR rankings. He has done enough this summer to justify the bump.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaytron Allen Faces an Uphill Battle to Earn Playing Time
Washington Commanders running back Kaytron Allen could struggle to earn meaningful snaps during his rookie season. The Commanders spent their sixth-round pick this year on Allen, who finished his collegiate career as Penn State's all-time leading rusher. Despite his impressive NCAA track record, he may struggle to carve out a significant role right away in the NFL. He's currently third on the running back depth chart behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. Croskey-Merritt made a great impression as a rookie last season with 805 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, and White was signed this offseason as a perfect complement because of his prowess as a receiver. The Commanders have two very strong options for passing and receiving downs, leaving Allen in more of a depth role. He'll get some opportunities to handle change-of-pace snaps, and he'd presumably take on a bigger role if Croskey-Merritt or White get hurt. For now, though, he's likely off the fantasy radar in redraft leagues. His ADP of 231.3 confirms that he's an afterthought in most drafts at the moment.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rachaad White the Subject of Positive Reports During Camp
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White drew positive reviews for his performance throughout training camp this summer. A minor hamstring injury sidelined White for the final two preseason games, but even though he didn't touch the ball in a game, he still flashed upside as a ball-carrier and receiver during camp. White is gearing up for his first season in Washington after four years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the RB4 in PPR leagues in 2023 before falling to RB22 and RB32 over the last two years, respectively. White's exact fantasy outlook depends on how the Commanders distribute the volume. Right now, we'd assume Jacory Croskey-Merritt and White both get involved on early downs, with Croskey-Merritt seeing a slightly larger carry share. However, White is the far more productive back on receiving downs, so he should get on the field in passing situations and carve out a decent target share. White has logged 40+ receptions in all four NFL seasons and 50+ receptions in three of the four. As a result, managers in PPR leagues should consider snagging him as their RB3/flex this year. As it stands, he ranks as RotoBaller's RB40 in redraft leagues. He has an ADP of 116.1, which corresponds to the 10th round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 40th running back off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Gets Some Work In
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body) was seen getting some work in Tuesday, with John Keim of ESPN posting video of him going through drills. Croskey-Merritt did not appear in any of Washington's three preseason games and is still working his way back from the injury, so this is a step in the right direction rather than a full practice return. The second-year back ran for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries as a rookie and currently sits atop Washington's depth chart. Rachaad White and rookie Kaytron Allen are also on the 53-man roster. Croskey-Merritt's status will be worth tracking when the Commanders get into their normal Week 1 practice schedule, but seeing him back doing field work is at least a positive sign after his late-August absence.
Source: John Keim
Source: John Keim
