Chris Farley faded Jacory Croskey-Merritt under 42.5 rushing yards. He expects Green Bay’s ferocious Micah Parsons-led pass rush to force Washington into more passing sets, reducing the rookie’s snaps because he is unproven in pass protection. Farley also warned of a crowded backfield with Chris Rodriguez potentially active and Austin Ekeler handling catch-up duties. He called Croskey-Merritt’s Week 1 line inflated: 82 yards came on 10 carries but 42 yards were on one run, leaving 9 totes for 40 yards. The same Packers defense just held David Montgomery to 2.3 YPC. In a likely shootout, Farley believes Ekeler fits the script better and sees limited rushing volume for Croskey-Merritt.

Ducey likes Jacory Croskey-Merritt over 37.5 rushing yards at -110. Washington hammered the ground game in Week 1—32 carries, 220 yards, 6.9 YPC—while the Packers’ defensive stats were flattered by Detroit abandoning the run after an early 10-point hole. PFF still graded Green Bay’s run D only 18th. Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round rookie who averaged roughly 4.0 YPC in preseason, earned a 33% snap share and ripped off 10 carries for 82 yards (including a 42-yard burst) versus New York. Ducey believes the Commanders’ run-heavy identity and the tailback’s explosive first impression make this number a bargain.

Jacob Camenker targeted Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt at +210 for an anytime touchdown. The seventh-round rookie paced Washington’s backs with 10 carries, 82 rushing yards and a score in Week 1 while tying Austin Ekeler for the team lead with two red-zone rushes. Green Bay did stonewall Detroit at 2.1 YPC, but Camenker likes the + odds because Croskey-Merritt has already carved out high-leverage work near the goal line.

Dwain McFarland acknowledged Jacory Croskey-Merritt's meteoric ADP rise but is still buying at pick 106 on ESPN, arguing the rookie could see 60 % of snaps as early as Week 1. He is not worried about Austin Eckler or Chris Rodriguez taking enough early-down work to kill value and thinks a zero-RB build can support taking Croskey-Merritt's in Round 5 of high-stakes drafts. McFarland cautioned that the price introduces bust risk if usage opens in a three-back rotation, yet sees top-20 upside by mid-season if Bill captures the early-down and half of the receiving work.

Ian Hartitz advised targeting Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt once the top-28 running backs and top-45 receivers are off the board. Washington shipped Brian Robinson to San Francisco and then rested Croskey-Merritt with the starters in the preseason finale, a signal Hartitz reads as confidence that the seventh-rounder will open 2025 as the early-down option in a unit that finished 5th in scoring last year. Austin Ekeler still handles pass downs and Chris Rodriguez might mix in short yardage, but Hartitz believes the smoke signifies fire: Bill is the favorite for 10-15 carries a week. Given the historical scarcity of day-three backs carving big roles, Hartitz still likes him as a sleeper rather than a workhorse, but the cost is outrageously cheap for a potential starting back in a top offense.

Davis Mattek took Jacory Croskey-Merritt 97th overall in a DraftKings Best Ball and explained why he thinks the market is still too low on him even after a surge to consensus RB31. Mattek noted strong college metrics— Croskey-Merrittgained a first down on 37.2% of his runs and posted an elite break-away rate at New Mexico State before transferring to Arizona. Washingto shopped Brian Robinson Jr., whose 2023 line of 178-733-5 rushing and 36-368-4 receiving came on just 4.1 YPC. Mattek believes Croskey-Merritt can top 4.5–4.8 YPC and, if he seizes the starting role, become a classic "power-law" player who decides Best Ball tournaments by smashing in Weeks 15-17. Limited college receiving (only seven catches in his final season) adds risk, but the Commanders’ vacancy and his explosive profile give him true league-winning upside at a still-affordable tag.

Freedman rocketed Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt from RB62 to RB36 after the seventh-round pick parlayed a 1,368-yard, 19-TD final college campaign into an eye-opening camp (18-70-1 rushing, 3-8 receiving). Washington is searching for a between-the-tackles option and Freedman believes Croskey-Merritt has shown enough to start Week 1. That potential three-down opportunity at a bargain ADP makes him a priority late-round target in redraft and best-ball leagues.

In his latest rankings update, Matthew Freedman urged managers to "chase down" Jacory Croskey-Merritt even as the running back’s ADP rises. Freedman argued the market has not fully priced in the volume that opened when Brian Robinson was shipped to San Francisco, pointing out that Washington now has 244 vacated carries from 2024 and no other runner on the roster with more than 75 career NFL attempts. He expects Croskey-Merritt’s ADP to continue climbing over the next two peak draft weekends and recommended pulling the trigger one full round ahead of published consensus to lock in a potential three-down back attached to an offense that finished ninth in red-zone rush rate last season.

Dwain McFarland explained that Washington’s decision to trade Brian Robinson to the 49ers removes the only proven early-down threat in the Commanders backfield, vaulting Jacory Croskey-Merritt into what McFarland called "must-draft territory." McFarland noted that Fantasy Life’s internal rankers have already moved Croskey-Merritt up to RB33—solid RB3 value—but he believes the role consolidation makes an RB2 finish well within range. McFarland expects Croskey-Merritt to command the lion’s share of goal-line and first- and second-down work beginning in Week 1. He advised scooping the Commanders back wherever he slips past the sixth round in season-long or as an anchor RB in Zero-RB best-ball builds before ADP corrects.

Allen highlighted Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 64.8-spot ADP surge after his 46-yard preseason touchdown against a porous Bengals run defense and the report that Washington is shopping Brian Robinson. If Robinson is moved, the backfield would shrink to three backs plus a mobile quarterback, giving the explosive Croskey-Merritt a real shot at early-down duties in what Allen calls a "potent" Commanders offense. His athletic profile and sudden workload runway make him an upside late-round lottery ticket in drafts.

Cooter Doodle urged managers to trade away Jacory Croskey-Merritt after his 11-46-1 Monday-night line juiced Twitter highlights and sent his value skyrocketing. She pointed out that the rookie’s 27-yard TD came against “zero defenders,” making the clip more sizzle than steak. Washington’s depth chart still includes Austin Ekeler, and Brian Robinson Jr. has yet to be dealt, so Croskey-Merritt’s role is anything but secure. Because his stock "has never been higher," Doodle believes fantasy GMs can flip him for a more proven asset before reality catches up to the preseason buzz.

Matt Olson said Jacory Croskey-Merritt ‘could be the focal point’ of the Commanders backfield sooner than later. Olson relayed beat-writer Ben Standig’s note that Brian Robinson’s role – and even his roster spot – is in question, while Croskey-Merritt has been stacking explosive runs every day of camp. Robinson has failed to top 800 rushing yards in any of his three seasons and Washington has lacked big-play production on the ground. Olson emphasized that a seventh-round pick who ‘never should have lasted that long’ is now flashing with the first unit, and coaching staffs – especially Kliff Kingsbury, who is coaching for job security – will not bench an explosive runner that solves a long-standing problem. Fantasy drafters in best ball or season-long formats should stash Croskey-Merritt now before preseason usage and joint-practice reports push his ADP higher.

Tristan H. Cockcroft advised targeting Jacory Croskey-Merritt in leagues that go beyond the standard 160-player draft pool. The seventh-round pick’s eligibility issues limited him to one game at Arizona in 2024, depressing his draft stock, but he has since lit up rookie camp and early preseason practices with eye-popping straight-line speed and sharp one-cut agility. With 30-year-old Austin Ekeler and a scuffling Brian Robinson Jr. atop the depth chart, Cockcroft believes Croskey-Merritt could carve out touches quickly and even threaten for the starting gig if his camp momentum carries into September. He labeled the back a prime bench stash whose athleticism and thin depth-chart competition give him league-winning upside.

Tom Strachan said Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s meteoric ADP jump to 184 (+47.7) is still lagging behind his upside. With only Brian Robinson Jr. cemented as the early-down starter and Austin Ekeler locked into passing-downs, Croskey-Merritt can carve out the breather/goal-line role as early as Week 1. Strachan highlighted that Croskey-Merritt ranked 19th in yards after contact per attempt and 12th in elusive rating in 2023 (PFF) and noted Washington spent a seventh-round pick after eligibility issues depressed his 2024 tape, meaning he comes with virtually no sunk-cost bias. At a sub-200 price tag in FFPC best ball rooms, Strachan advised scooping him as a final-round dart in builds that fade the RB dead zone.

Mattek labeled Jacory Croskey-Merritt one of the most fun late-round running-back picks because the Commanders’ veteran obstacles are fragile. Thirty-one-year-old Austin Ekeler has shown age-related efficiency erosion, and Brian Robinson Jr. fought through a knee issue that kept him from practicing for most of 2024. If either veteran falters, Mattek sees Croskey-Merritt stepping directly into the Ekeler ‘A’ role given his all-purpose skill set. The only other competition—Chris Rodriguez and 29-year-old Jeremy McNichols—combined for just 110 fantasy points last year, illustrating how shallow the depth chart is. Playing alongside first-year starter Jaden Daniels in a dynamic offense that lost right tackle Sam Cosmi, Mattek expects a steady diet of short passes and creative motion that would pad Croskey-Merritt’s receiving totals. He believes the rookie can climb the depth chart quickly and become a usable Week 9 injury-bye fill-in with genuine league-winning upside if both vets miss time.

Davis Mattek labeled Jacory Croskey-Merritt a true late-round league-winner. Mattek noted that 31-year-old Austin Ekeler is the only thing standing between Merritt and the pass-catching role that has historically produced top-15 PPR finishes in Washington’s backfield. Beat writers keep describing the Commanders’ offense as "super dynamic" while praising Merritt’s burst in camp. Mattek thinks managers will get immediate flex utility during injury and bye weeks, but the real upside materializes if Ekeler slows or misses time—"he could just become Ekeler’s role" on a cheap ADP. Mattek advised stashing Merritt everywhere rather than spending half your FAAB when the role flips in-season.

Sean Koerner called Jacory Croskey Merritt the "Camp-Buzz MVP" and a screaming value at RB68. He noted the rookie has generated legitimate praise on film and has a clear path to touches behind Brian Robinson, who has been solid but not untouchable, and Austin Ekeler, whose role is defined as a passing-down specialist. Koerner believes the market has not caught up to the hype and projects Croskey Merritt to push for top-40 fantasy production if he siphons early-down work or steps in for an injury, offering a strong floor/ceiling combo for late best-ball rounds.

Pat Kerrane said Jacory Croskey-Merritt is exactly the kind of last-round swing he wants in best-ball tournaments. Because the rookie went almost completely undrafted earlier in the summer, any team that rosters him gains unique leverage against the early ADP super-teams you must beat in single-week eliminations. Kerrane pointed to an unusually loud camp drumbeat—four of six Commanders beat writers recently named Croskey-Merritt their biggest standout and one predicted he would be the starter by December. The depth chart is "pretty open;" outside of Brian Robinson there is no entrenched talent, and Dan Quinn’s reluctance to hand work to rookies simply means the bet is back-weighted. Kerrane framed the upside as “Brian Robinson with more juice” down the stretch. He also reminded listeners that Croskey-Merritt lost his senior college season, giving scouts a wide range of outcomes and making his seventh-round draft capital potentially deceptive. As long as the price remains in the final rounds, Kerrane sees immense upside with minimal opportunity cost.

Dan Graziano said seventh-rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt has impressed Washington coaches with vision and open-field cuts, making "a compelling case" for long-term usage. He is the only back under contract beyond 2025 while Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler play on expiring deals, so dynasty managers should grab Croskey-Merritt now before the depth chart turns over.

Clayton Gray noted that Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s ADP has surged in Underdog drafts this week, making him one of the platform’s largest movers. Gray tied the jump to the broader theme of rookies gaining steam as beat writers file daily training-camp observations. The upward momentum means drafters who were sneaking Croskey-Merritt into late rounds must now spend earlier capital or risk missing out entirely.

The Fantasy Life Newsletter noted that Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s first-team reps during training camp—and the steady social-media drumbeat around his play—make him a name to stash. Washington’s backfield is wide open and tied to what the tout calls a potentially high-powered offense, checking every late-round sleeper box: unclear depth chart, reasonable path to touches, and inexpensive ADP. With little draft capital invested (seventh round) but early camp involvement, Croskey-Merritt has moved onto the tout’s watch list as a free, upside swing at the very end of drafts.

Ben Gretch identified seventh-round pick Jacori Croskey-Merritt as a nearly free dart throw who could carve out an explosive-play role in Washington’s backfield. Austin Ekeler is 29 and the only proven juice on the roster, while Brian Robinson and Chris Rodriguez are straight-line grinders. Gretch’s projections leave room for a speed back who can flip field position and catch passes in Kliff Kingsbury’s uptempo offense. Although Merritt is far from a roster lock—Gretch conceded he could be cut—he costs a Round-20 pick, exactly the type of asymmetric bet that can swing Best Ball tournaments if Ekeler’s age shows or the Commanders simply want more big-play potential. Gretch prefers stashing Merritt over veteran dust backs in the same range because any path to snaps in a Jayden Daniels offense could translate to lineup-cracking spike weeks down the stretch.

With no meaningful coachspeak and a depth chart featuring Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez, seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Super Model 60, ADP 215.2) is likely the RB3/4 in Washington. Overzet concedes there is contingent upside if injuries strike but sees little standalone role and is not drafting him (0.6 % exposure). The advice is to keep him bookmarked for waiver or late-summer ADP shifts, not to spend current Best Ball capital.

Sam Monson said seventh-rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the kind of back who can pay off immediately in fantasy despite minimal draft capital. Monson highlighted that Croskey-Merritt posted the best deceleration and short-area metrics recorded at the Shrine Bowl, confirming on-tape quick cutting ability. He noted the Arizona transfer averaged 6.3 yards per carry in his lone 2023 appearance after leaving New Mexico, and Renner had been "pounding the table" for him as a Day-2 talent. Washington’s depth chart is open behind Brian Robinson and 29-year-old Austin Ekeler, giving Croskey-Merritt a realistic path to meaningful touches or even a starting role. Monson concluded that those athletic traits plus a thin backfield make Croskey-Merritt worth a final-round stab in best-ball or deep season-long formats because the payoff far outweighs the cost.