Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s breakout performance against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday didn’t just lift the Washington Commanders to a convincing win; it sent shockwaves through the league and the analytics world. PFSN’s proprietary RBi metric rewarded the rookie’s dominance with a 93.6 grade, the highest among all running backs this season.
Not only was Croskey-Merritt’s 71.4% rushing success rate the best of any running back in Week 5, but he also continues to set a new standard for rookie efficiency and impact, now holding the second-best season grade for a rookie running back since 2013, only trailing Miami Dolphins star De’Von Achane’s 95.9 grade from 2023.
Can Jacory Croskey-Merritt Change Washington’s Backfield Expectations?
The numbers from Croskey-Merritt’s performance leap off the page, but what makes them game-changing is how they break down across PFSN’s advanced metrics. On Sunday, Croskey-Merritt converted 71.4% of his carries into successful plays, ranking first among all backs in the league for Week 5.
This wasn’t the kind of empty production that sometimes accompanies big days; PFSN’s RBi values not only raw yardage and explosiveness but also the variety of skills required from a modern NFL back, factoring in pass-blocking, receiving, and each player’s share of team carries.
PFSN’s definition of “rushing success rate” hinges on a running back’s ability to keep the offense moving on schedule, gaining the necessary yards on any down to avoid putting the team behind the sticks. Croskey-Merritt ran for an average of 7.9 yards per carry and notched 111 rushing yards on just 14 attempts while adding 39 receiving yards. He also ranked third in both yards before contact (2.64) and yards after contact (5.29).
These numbers can’t be dismissed as a one-off: Croskey-Merritt has now earned the highest individual game RBi grade twice this season, having previously posted a dominant effort against the New York Giants in Week 1. Through five games, he owns the best cumulative RBi for the 2025 season.
MORE: PFSN’s RB Impact Dashboard
Adding context to his on-field work, Washington’s victory over the Chargers was as much about controlling the clock as it was about big plays. With the Commanders clinging to a lead in the fourth quarter, Croskey-Merritt picked up three first downs on Washington’s final two drives and churned out 34 yards on just three carries during the last possession. His second touchdown, a 5-yard scamper that saw him evade tacklers in the backfield, pushed the Commanders’ lead to 17-10 and effectively broke the Chargers’ defensive resolve.
on 28 snaps, Bill Croskey-Merritt produced gains of:
28, 27, 15, 15, 12, 11 and 10 yards ✅
His movement, cuts and base are so aesthetically pleasing. He slithers through lanes
finished with 150 yards and two TDs pic.twitter.com/KKeaZ7CKgE
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) October 6, 2025
The rookie’s postgame mentality matched the data-driven story. “It feels amazing,” Croskey-Merritt said to Tom Brady following the win. “I’m so thankful for this organization — for believing in me, for trusting me. I’m so thankful and just excited to be here.” His humility is apparent, but the numbers are impossible to ignore.
What’s more, Croskey-Merritt’s impressive command over the backfield is reflected in opportunity share as analyzed by PFSN. He took 13 of the Commanders’ first 14 running back carries, which is a strong indicator of coaching trust and a key reason why his RBi outpaces committee backs across the NFL. While he did lose a fumble, his ability to stay in the game immediately afterward and handle late-game responsibilities validated PFSN’s evaluation that usage share is as crucial as raw production.
Both Commanders fans and league observers are right to ask whether this is the arrival of a new lead back in Washington. Croskey-Merritt’s PFSN profile — not just the highlight plays, but the granular impact and efficiency grades — strongly suggest that the rookie isn’t just making noise; he’s redefining what the Commanders’ ground attack can accomplish with a single focal point.
At just 5’11”, 208 pounds, Croskey-Merritt was overlooked by much of the league coming out of college and entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick. Yet, with PFSN’s data shining a light on how every touch counts, especially when weighed for quality, not just quantity, he is rapidly becoming the league’s newest standard-bearer for rushing impact and efficiency.
In today’s NFL, those are the running backs who make the biggest difference, and right now, PFSN’s numbers insist that Croskey-Merritt is leading the way.