Jacory Croskey-Merritt Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Though he entered the game as Washington's No. 3 RB, seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt lived up to his considerable preseason hype by rushing for a team-high 82 yards and his first NFL touchdown as the Commanders cruised to a 21-6 victory over the Giants.

Crosky-Merritt emerged as a fantasy sleeper with a strong preseason showing. The resulting trade of Brian Robinson to San Francisco cemented Crosky-Merritt as a mid-to-late round target with upside.

In Washington's opener, he lived up to that billing.

Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez is a healthy scratch for today’s game vs. the Giants. RBs Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols are active for Washington. McNichols notably plays special teams, while Rodriguez does not. The news makes Croskey-Merritt a safer Week 1 fantasy play. We’re projecting him to lead in early-down snaps, while Ekeler mixes in and dominates passing-down work.

After plenty of trade speculation, the Washington Commanders have traded RB Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Commanders HC Dan Quinn said Thursday that RB Chris Rodriguez will likely be the team's short-yardage and goal-line back with RB Brian Robinson headed out of town. "Chris has that tackle-breaking ability, especially in a small space," Quinn said.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson was held out of Monday night's preseason game amid reports that he'll be traded or released. RB Chris Rodriguez drew the start and played all four snaps on QB Jayden Daniels' lone drive. Rodriguez and RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt worked in a rotation the rest of the first half, with RB Jeremy McNichols handling obvious passing-down snaps. (RB Austin Ekeler did not play.) Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt both ran well. Rodriguez ripped off this 40-yarder on Washington's second offensive snap, finishing with six carries for 62 yards. Croskey-Merritt broke loose for this 27-yard TD and finished with 46 yards on 11 carries.

The Commanders "have been shopping" RB Brian Robinson, insider Jordan Schultz reports. Robinson has led Washington RBs in carries and rushing yards in each of the last three seasons. But he's averaged a mediocre 4.1 yards per carry and is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

The Athletic's Ben Standig highlighted RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt as a standout in the team's recent rookie camp. Standig was particularly impressed by Croskey-Merritt's agility and burst, elements that Washington's backfield lacked last year. "If this proves to be real," Standig said of Croskey-Merritt's performance, "this is the element this offense could use. ... If you ask me for a bold prediction, I could see Croskey-Merritt getting into the [RB] rotation."

The Washington Commanders select RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt with the 245th pick in Round 7 of the NFL Draft. Croskey-Merritt was one of the biggest Combine snubs in terms of skill-position players. He ran a 4.45 40 at 5'10, 206 pounds. Merritt's explosion workouts were off the charts too with a 41.5" Vert and 10'04 Broad at his Pro Day. A straight line runner who has the speed to hit the homerun, there is some space to find a roster spot on the Commanders roster, especially as they try to get more complete in the RB room.