JacoryCroskey-Merritt

News: 7 days agoCroskey-Merritt has made a huge impression during the first week of training camp, according to Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan.

Spin: When Paulsen asked six other Washington beat reporters to name the player that has stood out most at training camp, four of them named Croskey-Merritt immediately. He was merely a seventh-round pick in the 2025 Draft after eligibility issues limited him to one game at Arizona last year, but it sounds like the running back is already making a strong bid for the Week 1 roster, and possibly even for some touches early in the season. The Commanders have Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler atop their backfield depth chart, followed by Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols and others battling for depth roles. The first task for Croskey-Merritt this August is to get his foot in the door for the No. 3 running back role.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Croskey-Merritt was selected in the seventh round after spending six seasons at the collegiate level. After four seasons at Alabama State, he had his breakout season at New Mexico in 2023 prior to appearing in only one game in 2024. Croskey-Merritt's elite 2023 efficiency is notable, but he's an older developmental back. With Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler locked in atop the depth chart and the likes of Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. also in the mix, Croskey-Merritt is no lock to make the Washington 53-man roster.