The Washington Commanders’ backfield hierarchy has shifted dramatically as Chris Rodriguez emerges as the preferred option over Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Both runners enter Week 11 with vastly different outlooks following JCM’s prolonged struggles. Can fantasy football managers trust either Commanders runner this week?
Chris Rodriguez Fantasy Outlook
Rodriguez has seized control of Washington’s goal-line role and capitalized with touchdowns in consecutive games. The veteran has more fantasy points in each of his past two contests than Croskey-Merritt has posted in any single game over the past five weeks.
Last week, Rodriguez started against Detroit in a return to the early-season routine where Croskey-Merritt didn’t enter until the team’s third drive (although it was Austin Ekeler starting at that point). Rodriguez rushed six times for 16 yards and one touchdown before departing with a shoulder injury that prevented him from finishing the game.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
The injury concern proved minor, as Rodriguez practiced fully Wednesday and is expected to play against Miami. He’ll serve as the lead back with Jeremy McNichols mixing in on passing downs. Two weeks ago, Rodriguez totaled 65 yards on a dozen carries with another score, demonstrating his value near the goal line.
Rodriguez doesn’t have a target on the season, which creates an incredibly low floor for PPR formats. His fantasy value depends entirely on touchdown production and modest rushing yardage. However, as the biggest and most physical of Washington’s backs, he’s earned the coaching staff’s trust in short-yardage situations where scores are most accessible.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Fantasy Outlook
The Commanders turned their backfield over to the rookie in Week 6 following his breakout Week 5 performance. JCM rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, scoring 27.0 fantasy points in that contest. Since then, it’s been an unmitigated disaster for fantasy purposes.
Croskey-Merritt doesn’t have anywhere near 27.0 fantasy points in every game since then combined. Bill has been demoted despite his 45% snap share in each of the past two games. Don’t let that number deceive you, as he only reached that high of a share by taking meaningless carries in the fourth quarter of blowouts.
READ MORE: Soppe’s Week 11 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Analysis for Every Player in Every Game
JCM is being phased out of the offense in favor of Rodriguez’s power running style. Against the Lions, Croskey-Merritt rushed 11 times for just 30 yards.
If the game stays competitive and no one gets hurt, fantasy managers should expect Croskey-Merritt to see a sub-30% snap share. The seventh-round rookie who couldn’t even earn a combine invite has proven unable to sustain the success from his early breakout. He is not startable and may very well be droppable after this week.
Should You Start Rodriguez or Croskey-Merritt This Week?
Miami presents a decent matchup for Washington’s rushing attack. The Dolphins have been much improved on defense lately but still allow the 14th-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to running backs. This is a game where the Commanders may actually be able to stay competitive and avoid extreme negative game script.
The game sets up well for Rodriguez, who is expected to handle lead-back duties with McNichols operating on passing downs. Fantasy managers obviously will need a touchdown for Rodriguez to pay off, but this week offers as good of a chance as any given his consecutive games with scores and Miami’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Rodriguez qualifies as a touchdown-or-bust RB3 option who provides goal-line upside in a favorable environment. His complete lack of receiving work caps his floor, but his red zone role creates weekly scoring potential that makes him deployable for desperate fantasy managers.
Croskey-Merritt is unstartable and likely droppable in most fantasy formats. The rookie’s role has evaporated following weeks of poor efficiency and declining opportunity. Fantasy managers seeking running back help should focus exclusively on Rodriguez as the only Washington back worth considering in Week 11.