Jeremy McNichols Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The fantasy-unfriendly three-man backfield committee that the Washington Commanders utilized in Week 3 carried over into Week 4. The Commanders had some success on the ground, rushing 22 times for 147 yards (6.7 yards per carry), but ultimately came up short, losing 34-27 in Atlanta.

Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. We didn't see the rookie get banged up in the Week 3 win over the Raiders and don't have any details on this knee issue. We'll see if he gets back on the field tomorrow. Croskey-Merritt's absence would leave Chris Rodriguez as Washington's lead early-down back and a potential fantasy starter. RB Jeremy McNichols could also pick up extra carries.

The Commanders' RB situation was muddled even more against the Raiders. Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 23 snaps just edged out Chris Rodriguez’s 22. Jeremy McNichols had 15 himself, which included a long TD run. It may be tough to start a Commanders’ RB going forward.

The Commanders believe RB Austin Ekeler tore his right Achilles in Thursday night's loss to the Packers, according to multiple reports. That's what it looked like when he went down late in the fourth quarter of a game that was already decided. Ekeler is undergoing additional testing on Friday to confirm the diagnosis. It'd be a season-ending injury and could threaten Ekeler's career. He's 30 and set to hit free agency this offseason. What's his absence mean for Washington's backfield going forward? Let's dig in.

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.

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 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 Commanders are activating RB Austin Ekeler from IR. He missed the past four games with a concussion but should be ready for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. See where Ekeler lands in our updated Week 18 RB rankings.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. lost a pair of fumbles in Sunday's win over the Eagles. The first came on the team's second possession, and then Robinson logged just 1 touch over Washington's next two drives. After his second fumble -- early in the second quarter -- RB Chris Rodriguez saw his first action on the ensuing drive. Robinson did return again and finished the game as Washington's lead back. He still played 42 snaps to 19 for Jeremy McNichols and 7 for Rodriguez. Robinson logged just 10 carries for 24 yards and a 2-17 receiving line on 3 targets.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. managed just 65 rushing yards in Sunday's win over the Saints, who arrived as one of the league's worst run defenses. Robinson did so on 21 carries (3.1 per rush), controlling 87.5% of the team's RB carries for the game. Robinson added 3 receptions for 22 yards on 3 targets.

The Commanders placed RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) on IR, knocking him out for at least the next four games. Washington has a Week 14 bye, so we won't see Ekeler again until Week 18 at the earliest. He can be dropped from all redraft rosters. Jeremy McNichols will slide in as the Commanders' No. 2 RB with Ekeler out, but we could also see RB Brian Robinson get more work in the passing game.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson (ankle) is not listed on the final Week 13 injury report after putting in a full practice on Friday. He'll play vs. the Titans this weekend -- and it looks like he'll be ready for a significant role. RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) has been ruled out. That figures to leave Jeremy McNichols as the No. 2 RB, but he'd be a desperation fantasy start.

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) did not practice on Wednesday. He's unlikely to be cleared in time for this weekend's game vs. the Titans. RB Brian Robinson (ankle) got in a limited practice on Wednesday, though, giving him a chance to play on Sunday. We'll keep you updated on this backfield over the next few days. RBs Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez would handle backfield duties if Ekeler and Robinson are out.

The Commanders have ruled RB Brian Robinson Jr. out for Sunday's game against the Steelers with the hamstring injury that also cost him Week 9. Robinson managed limited practices Wednesday and Thursday after putting in limited workouts all last week and carrying a "questionable" tag into the game. But he missed Friday's practice this time around and got ruled out early.

RB Chris Rodriguez matched Austin Ekeler for the team lead with 11 carries in Sunday's win over the Giants. His 52 yards beat Ekeler by 10 to lead the team, and his 4.7 yards per rush led the team. Rodriguez ran third among the group in receiving work, though, getting just 2 routes to Ekeler's 13 and McNichols' 11.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson (hamstring) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Giants. That leaves Washington’s backfield to RBs Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, and Chris Rodriguez. Ekeler played 73% of the offensive snaps when Robinson missed Week 6 and is the best fantasy bet in the backfield.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson (hamstring) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants. It’s a new injury for Robinson, who battled a knee issue earlier this season. We haven’t heard any concern about his availability for this one, but we’ll keep you updated on the situation and get Washington’s inactives around 11:30 am ET on Sunday. Robinson’s absence would leave the backfield to Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols.

With RB Brian Robinson out with his knee injury, Austin Ekeler operated as Washington's lead back in the Week 6 loss to the Ravens. He played 75% of the offensive snaps and ran a route on 63% of pass plays -- well ahead of Jeremy McNichols (37%, 33%). Ekeler finished with nine carries and five targets to McNichols' two carries and zero targets. Ekeler predictably struggled on the ground against a stout Baltimore run defense, mustering just 21 rushing yards. But he caught four of his five targets for 47 yards, highlighted by a 25-yard catch and run on Washington's first possession.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson (knee) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game vs. the Ravens. He seemingly suffered a setback trying to play through this knee injury last weekend and didn't practice at all this week. We'll see if he can make it back for Week 7's meeting with the Panthers.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler hears that it'll be an "uphill battle" for Commanders RB Brian Robinson (knee) to play against the Ravens on Sunday. That's not a surprise after Robinson missed practice all week. Robinson is listed as questionable, and there's still "a little bit of hope" that he'll be able to play, per Fowler. But fantasy owners should be making other plans for Week 6 fantasy lineups. Even if Robinson plays, he'll be a shaky bet at less than 100% in a tough matchup.