The Washington Commanders will host the New York Giants in Week 1. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, specifically regarding RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt Playing in Week 1?
Croskey-Merritt is not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he will play.
We’ll continue to monitor the Commanders’ injury report leading up to kickoff for any changes. You can also visit and bookmark our Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Week 1?
What an overwhelming month it has been for Jacory Croskey-Merritt. In roughly thirty days, the rookie went from a seventh-round pick to a fantasy football phenomenon. You’ll often hear him called “Bill,” a nickname he got as a child when his family thought his bald head resembled the cartoon character “Little Bill.”
His strong training camp first turned the heads of beat reporters, then his preseason performance caught the eye of fans. Finally, the trade of Brian Robinson Jr. on Aug. 22 confirmed that the internal buzz was real.
But let’s be clear: Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round pick for a reason. He had an unusual college career, taking snaps for three different programs over six years. His first four seasons were at Alabama State, where he failed to average even 4.0 yards per carry in any campaign. After transferring, he showed enough promise to get drafted on the final night and has continued to impress since. So, what now?
A player with only one 140-touch season on his resume is now considered the potential lead back for an NFL team aiming for the playoffs. To say things are moving fast for him, and for fantasy managers, would be an understatement, which will likely lead to uneven production. On the bright side, this is a long season.
If you drafted him, and his rising ADP is a great reminder to draft as late as possible, the best move now is to wait. Veteran Austin Ekeler sits atop the depth chart, but he has said he left Los Angeles because he didn’t want a bellcow workload, and it’s safe to assume that stance hasn’t changed with age.
This situation means Croskey-Merritt will get every chance to succeed and prove that the flashes we saw this summer were the start of something special, not just an outlier. I’m cautiously optimistic.
First-year production from a player with Croskey-Merritt’s profile isn’t common, but succeeding in a high-powered offense next to an elite quarterback is certainly possible. The best approach is to wait and see. The fantasy projection looks a lot different with 14 touches compared to 20, so why force the issue and start him in Week 1 over a player you drafted higher who has a more defined role?
The Washington Commanders head to Lambeau Field to kick off Week 2 on Thursday Night, and I’m remaining cautious regardless of how Week 1 unfolds. If he gets a heavy workload, there’s a legitimate concern about his recovery on a short week.
If he doesn’t get much work, his role will be in question. But after that quick turnaround, Washington gets extended rest before facing Las Vegas and then traveling to Atlanta. If Croskey-Merritt truly fills the role Robinson left behind, I’ll likely have him as an RB2 for Week 3.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 1 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em article.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 1
Croskey-Merritt is projected to score 11.7 points in PPR formats. This includes 71 rushing yards, 0.7 rushing touchdowns, 0.3 receptions for 1.5 receiving yards, and 0 receiving touchdowns.
Check out the free PFSN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Week 1 Weather Impact: Commanders vs Giants
Weather conditions should be favorable for this outdoor matchup with temperatures at 76 degrees Fahrenheit and light winds of 7 mph.
