Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Early TD helps set season rushing high
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Croskey-Merritt rushed 11 times for 82 yards and a touchdown but wasn't targeted in Sunday's 27-27 tie against the Giants.
Croskey-Merritt had a 33-yard touchdown run on his first carry just two minutes into the game and ultimately set a new season high in rushing yards despite tying for his fewest touches of the season with just 11. Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler combined for 10 carries and two targets, while Jayden Daniels led Washington's ground game with 103 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on nine attempts. Given Croskey-Merritt's lack of involvement in the passing game, he may not get many opportunities if the Commanders fall behind as expected when they visit the undefeated 49ers in Week 6.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Clear for Week 5
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Croskey-Merritt (groin) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game versus the Giants, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Croskey-Merritt followed up back-to-back limited sessions to kick off Week 5 prep with a full practice Friday, and his lack of injury tag indicates he's good to play through his groin injury. Meanwhile, Rachaad White (shoulder) also has been cleared to return after sitting out Week 4, so Croskey-Merritt will have a bit more competition for backfield reps. Austin Ekeler also is on hand for any touches that linger.
Croskey-Merritt (groin) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Croskey-Merritt maintained his activity level from Wednesday as he tends to a groin injury. Friday's practice report may provide clarity on his status ahead of Sunday's contest against the Giants. Through four games this season, Croskey-Merritt boasts 197 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD on 61 touches.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Limited with groin injury
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Croskey-Merritt (groin) was limited in Wednesday's practice session,Ralph Vacchiano of FoxSports.com
The Commanders have a lengthy injury report Wednesday, including their starting running back. Croskey-Merritt is dealing with a groin injury as the Commanders prepare to host the Giants, but he was at least able to get some work in. Fellow running back Rachaad White (shoulder) also logged a limited session.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Held in check by Indy
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Croskey-Merritt carried the ball nine times for a season-low 15 yards and caught two of four targets for 35 yards in Sunday's 30-13 loss to the Colts.
The Commanders' running game struggled to get anything going against an Indy front seven led by DeForest Buckner, especially once Marcus Mariota (knee) was replaced under center by seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis, but Croskey-Merritt was able to salvage his production to some extent with a 35-yard catch and run on a screen pass in the first quarter that helped set up a field goal. His 11 touches led the Washington backfield, while Austin Ekeler saw five in his season debut and rookie Kaytron Allen got three, but that division of labor came with Rachaad White (shoulder) on the shelf. Croskey-Merritt's ability to improve on his numbers could depend on whether Jayden Daniels (elbow) can return at quarterback for Washington in a Week 5 home game against the Giants.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: In line for larger workload in London
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Croskey-Merritt has served as the Commanders' RB1 this season, but his backfield snap count for Week 4 against the Colts figures to be larger due to the absence of Rachaad White (shoulder).
Croskey-Merritt has logged 47 carries through three regular-season games, though he's turned that into only 142 yards (3.0 YPC) and a touchdown while playing less than 50 percent of the Commanders' offensive snaps in two games. White has mostly operated as the change-of-pace, pass-catching RB for the Commanders this season, so Croskey-Merrit figures to see an expanded role Sunday while the former is sidelined. Rookie Kaytron Allen and recently-signed Austin Ekeler are also in the mix for backfield work in London, England.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Sleeper RBs
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Rachaad White (shoulder) is out for Week 4 against the Colts in London, which is great news for Croskey-Merritt. We'll see what happens with Austin Ekeler, but Croskey-Merritt should lead Washington in touches. He has struggled in the past two games against Dallas and Seattle, with a combined 31 carries for 79 yards and no touchdowns and two catches for 12 yards on two targets. He will likely need a touchdown to help you as a Fantasy asset, but maybe he'll get more work in the passing game with White out. I like Croskey-Merritt as a high-end flex against the Colts, who are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Indianapolis has allowed a running back to score or gain over 100 rushing yards in all three games, and hopefully, Croskey-Merritt will find the end zone in this game in London.
Croskey-Merritt has struggled in the past two games against Dallas and Seattle, with a combined 31 carries for 79 yards and no touchdowns and two catches for 12 yards on two targets. He will likely need a touchdown to help you as a Fantasy asset, and we'll see what role Austin Ekeler plays after signing with the Commanders this week, along with Rachaad White. I like Croskey-Merritt as a high-end flex against the Colts, who are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Indianapolis has allowed a running back to score or gain over 100 rushing yards in all three games, and hopefully, Croskey-Merritt will find the end zone in this game in London.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Held in check by Seattle
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Croskey-Merritt carried the ball 19 times for 36 yards and caught his only target for seven yards in Sunday's 33-31 win over the Seahawks.
The second-year back couldn't get much going against the defending Super Bowl champs, with his longest run going for just nine yards, but the 20 touches did represent a season high in volume. Croskey-Merritt remains the top early-down option in the Commanders' backfield, and through three games he's gained 142 rushing yards and a TD on 47 carries. He could find more running room in a Week 4 home tilt against the Colts.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: RBs to Sit
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Croskey-Merritt had a productive Week 1 at Philadelphia with 16 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown and one catch for minus-7 yards on one target, but he struggled in Week 2 at Dallas with 12 carries for 43 yards and one catch for 5 yards on one target. Rachaad White outplayed Croskey-Merritt in Week 2, and I like White better than Croskey-Merritt in Week 3 against Seattle. The Seahawks run defense is tough, but White should be able to make plays against Seattle in the passing game (Rhamondre Stevenson had five catches for 44 yards on six targets in Week 1). I would only use Croskey-Merritt as a flex option in all formats in Week 3.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Solid rushing day in loss
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Croskey-Merritt rushed 12 times for 43 yards and brought in his only target for five yards in the Commanders' 37-20 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. He also recovered a fumble.
Croskey-Merritt once again functioned as the lead back in the Commanders' ground attack, and he did reasonably well with his opportunities. Washington's offense took a significant hit when Jayden Daniels exited the game with an elbow injury on the final play of the first half, and Croskey-Merritt's opportunities on the ground were also somewhat capped in the second half with the Commanders trying to catch up. Croskey-Merritt should continue helming the run game in a Week 3 home matchup against the defending champion Seahawks next Sunday.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: No designation for Week 1
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Croskey-Merritt (groin) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Philadelphia.
Croskey-Merritt had his practice reps restricted during the entirety of Week 1 prep due to a lower-body injury that stems back to an Aug. 22 practice. Despite those listed limitations, he'll be available to the Commanders backfield this weekend, likely in some sort of timeshare with Rachaad White.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Will play in Week 1
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Croskey-Merritt (groin) will play in Sunday's game against the Eagles, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.
Croskey-Merritt was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday but will apparently be fine for the season opener. He's got a tough matchup on the road in Philadelphia, and he'll will be sharing snaps with Rachaad White in some fashion, regardless of health/durability considerations.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Limited practice Wednesday
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Croskey-Merritt practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday due to a groin injury.
Croskey-Merritt initially suffered an undisclosed injury in an Aug. 22 practice that coach Dan Quinn clarified as to the running back's lower body not long after. While the running back was able to return to the practice field Sept. 1, Croskey-Merritt's activity level wasn't known until this week. He still has some work to do ahead of Sunday's Week 1 matchup at Philadelphia, while fellow RB Rachaad White (hamstring) avoided the Commanders' injury report entirely Wednesday.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: RBs to Sit
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Croskey-Merritt should be the lead running back for the Commanders, but he's going to lose touches to Rachaad White, especially in the passing game. Washington is an underdog in this matchup, and Croskey-Merritt won't be helpful if the Commanders are chasing points. In two games against the Eagles as a rookie in 2025 -- both without an injured Jayden Daniels -- Croskey-Merritt combined for 21 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown and no targets, and he scored a combined 11.4 PPR points. I'm nervous to use Croskey-Merritt as even a flex option, and White might be the better running back in PPR in Week 1.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Back at practice Tuesday
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Croskey-Merritt (lower body) is dressed for Tuesday's practice, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.
This is a big positive for Croskey-Merritt, who had been working through a lower-body issue late in the preseason. He is now trending in the right direction for Week 1, but official injury reports the week of the game will give final confirmation. If healthy, Croskey-Merritt is in line for a prominent role yet again in the Washington backfield.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Set to practice next week
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Croskey-Merritt (lower body) is expected to return to practice next week, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Croskey-Merritt was forced to miss the Commanders' final two preseason games due to a lower-body injury, and he won't practice Monday. His participation level once he gets back on the field should offer more clarity on his readiness for the regular-season opener Sunday, Sept. 13 against the Eagles. In the meantime, Kaytron Allen is the Commanders' top healthy option in the backfield with Rachaad White (hamstring) also banged up at the moment.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Sitting out Friday's preseason game
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Croskey-Merritt (lower body) won't suit up for Friday's preseason game at Baltimore.
On Aug. 20, Croskey-Merritt pulled up at the end of a catch and run in practice due to a lower-body injury, which now will keep him out of the Commanders' final two exhibitions. He focused on rehab work on the side this week, with the intent to return to practice at some point next week. Rachaad White (hamstring) and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps) also aren't in uniform Friday, meaning rookie sixth-rounder Kaytron Allen, Robert Henry and Craig Reynolds are the team's available RBs for preseason Week 3.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Won't play Friday
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Croskey-Merritt isn't in line to suit up for Friday's preseason game versus the Dolphins.
Croskey-Merritt will be joined on the sideline by fellow RBs Rachaad White and Jeremy McNichols (quadriceps), leaving 2026 sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen, offseason pickup Jerome Ford and undrafted rookie Robert Henry to man the backfield in the Commanders' exhibition opener. As a seventh-round rookie last season, Croskey-Merritt was a rare bright spot in the offense, turning 175 carries into 805 yards and eight touchdowns and gathering in nine of 13 targets for 68 yards. Considering White has averaged 223.8 touches per 17 games in his four-year career, he poises a legitimate threat to Croskey-Merritt's workload in the upcoming campaign.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Improving in passing game
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Croskey-Merritt made it a point over the offseason to improve his ability in the passing game, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
"They just want to be able to do more," Croskey-Merritt said. "The more you can do, the better." The second-year running back has been given more opportunities to catch the ball in practice, and coach Dan Quinn said he's been "digging into him a bunch" to improve that area of his game. Croskey-Merritt has added eight pounds of muscle this offseason and is expected to operate as the team's lead back on early downs ahead of newcomer Rachaad White. If he can provide more in the passing game, it would go a long way to raising Croskey-Merritt's fantasy floor.
