The Washington Commanders’ backfield has experienced a whirlwind week, leaving fantasy football managers scrambling to understand roles and expectations. The trade of Brian Robinson Jr. to San Francisco has created opportunities, but the hierarchy remains murky heading into Week 1. With three distinct options, Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chros Rodriguez, offering different skill sets, determining which Commander’s back deserves roster consideration requires careful analysis.
Austin Ekeler Fantasy Outlook
Ekeler enters Week 1 with the most secure role among Washington’s running backs, positioned to handle roughly 8-10 carries while dominating the passing game work. Without anyone trustworthy behind him regarding receiving ability, Ekeler should see more overall touches than fantasy managers might initially expect.
The veteran back showed renewed life in 2024, averaging 4.8 yards per carry compared to just 3.5 the previous season. His dual-threat capability remains intact despite entering his age-30 season, as evidenced by his 733 total yards and four touchdowns across 12 games last season.
.@AustinEkeler goes 24 yards for the TD!
📺: #WASvsCIN on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/CVzFptP3Ko— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024
Ekeler’s goal-line prowess cannot be overlooked when evaluating his fantasy ceiling. Since 2021, he ranks third among all running backs with 27 touchdowns inside the five-yard line, converting at an impressive 56% clip. With Robinson’s departure, those red-zone opportunities could increase significantly.
The concussion concerns that plagued Ekeler’s 2024 campaign appear resolved. His experience and versatility make him invaluable to Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive system, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the other backfield options.
Ekeler’s role as the primary pass-catching back provides a stable floor in PPR formats. His 12% target share ranked 12th in the league last season. Receiving ability ages better than rushing ability, making it plausible that Ekeler can maintain productivity through the air even at his advanced age.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Fantasy Outlook
Croskey-Merritt has generated significant buzz throughout training camp, transforming from a seventh-round rookie who couldn’t earn a combine invitation to a potential lead-back candidate. His performance impressed coaches enough that Washington felt comfortable trading away Robinson.
Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt goes by “Bill”
Bill just went 27 yards to the 🏠
Watch on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/UD9tot9Iau— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2025
However, reports from Commanders camp suggest this backfield could develop into an ugly three-man committee, with Jeremy McNichols potentially factoring into the rotation as well. The unofficial depth chart listed McNichols as the RB2 and Croskey-Merritt as the RB4, creating confusion about actual roles.
Practice observations paint a different picture, with the rookie serving as the second back going through drills behind Ekeler. This disconnect between official depth charts and practice usage highlights the uncertainty surrounding his Week 1 role.
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Croskey-Merritt’s fantasy ceiling appears limited by several factors beyond just snap count. His weak pass-catching profile eliminates opportunities in obvious passing situations, while Rodriguez’s presence likely caps his goal-line touches. At best, he projects for 8-10 carries, even in optimistic scenarios.
The rookie’s ADP skyrocketed, so he was drafted ahead of Ekeler in many leagues, creating unrealistic expectations. With a floor at a mere 2-4 carries, he is extremely difficult to project confidently.
Chris Rodriguez Fantasy Outlook
Update: Chris Rodriguez Jr. is inactive today.
Rodriguez has established himself as a reliable third option in Washington’s backfield, earning the team’s trust in specific short-yardage and goal-line situations. This specialized role provides touchdown-or-bust upside that makes him intriguing in deeper formats.
The veteran’s familiarity with the system and proven reliability in short-yardage scenarios suggest he’ll maintain his niche role even with the backfield changes. His physical running style complements the more finesse-oriented approaches of Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt.
However, Rodriguez’s limited volume makes him virtually impossible to trust in fantasy lineups. Even if he secures the primary goal-line role, he projects for perhaps 4-6 total touches, creating an extremely narrow path to fantasy relevance.
Should You Start Ekeler, Croskey-Merritt or Rodriguez This Week?
Ekeler represents the only member of this backfield worthy of fantasy consideration in Week 1. His established role, pass-catching ability, and goal-line history provide multiple paths to production that his backfield mates simply cannot match.
Despite the preseason hype, Croskey-Merritt’s wide range of potential outcomes makes him too risky for Week 1 lineups. The disconnect between his draft position and likely usage creates a scenario where even modest production might disappoint relative to expectations.
Rodriguez’s specialized role limits him to touchdown-dependent performances, making him unsuitable for anything beyond the deepest league formats. His handful of carries provides insufficient volume for consistent fantasy production.
The ideal approach involves starting Ekeler, if necessary, while leaving the rookie on the bench until roles are clarified. Even managers who drafted Croskey-Merritt ahead of Ekeler should prioritize the veteran’s proven floor and expanded opportunity.
Fantasy success often requires patience, particularly with rookie running backs in uncertain situations. Croskey-Merritt’s long-term potential remains intact, but Week 1 expectations should be tempered significantly given the committee concerns and limited ceiling.
