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Croskey-Merritt flashed tackle-breaking ability and short-yardage value as a seventh-round rookie. The coaching staff appears excited for his potential. Even so, JCM enters a genuine three-way competition with Rachaad White and Kaytron Allen. The goal-line TD upside still makes him worth a dart throw at his early RB40 ADP.
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Croskey-Merritt ran 175 times for 805 yards and 8 TDs in 2025, adding 9 catches on 13 targets for 68 yards.
Croskey-Merritt entered 2025 as a seventh-round pick with minimal expectations and beat them. He finished just RB33 at 8.3 PPR points per game, but he still turned late draft capital into a consistent role and seven starts.
JCM led RBs in rushing TDs while handling 35.3% of the team’s carries inside the 5-yard line. Chris Rodriguez actually led the team at 42.4%, but he has since moved on to the Jaguars, opening more goal-line work for Croskey-Merritt in 2026.
The efficiency metrics for Croskey-Merritt looked strong. Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, here’s how he ranked:
Stat | Total | Rank |
Yards Per Carry | 4.60 | 15th |
Rushing Yards over Expected per Attempt | 0.79 | 12th |
Yards After Contact Per Attempt | 2.34 | Seventh |
The rookie broke tackles and created more yardage than was blocked for him.
Those marks easily topped new Commanders teammate Rachaad White, who ranked 27th in yards per carry (4.25), 44th in RYOE per attempt (minus-0.22), and 35th in YAC per attempt (2.95).
The receiving profile is where the limitations show up. Croskey-Merritt averaged just 1.15 YPRR (28th among backs) and his yards after catch per reception of 5.7 ranked 71st.
The college profile doesn’t offer any evidence of receiving upside either. He only had seven catches in his lone full FBS season in 2023 at New Mexico.
HC Dan Quinn's comments at minicamp signal genuine belief in what Croskey-Merritt can become. Quinn specifically highlighted his fit in the new offensive scheme: "From a play design perspective where it's a little bit different, where it's some stretch, cutback-type plays, so seeing him do that and his explosiveness to go and do that is a big deal."
Quinn also noted visible physical development: "You can see some of that take on shape through workouts, getting stronger and adding more size and strength to him. Those are things you don't do during that first year. You do it during this time."
The offseason drumbeat has been positive for Croskey-Merritt and his second-year upside.
In addition to letting Rodriguez walk in free agency, the Commanders signed White and Jerome Ford to small, one-year contracts and drafted Kaytron Allen in Round 6.
Here’s how Quinn assessed the backfield in spring: "It's probably some main guys in certain parts. It's not going to be one person the entire time, but I do like the competition in the group."
White arrives with ample receiving and pass-blocking experience, positioning him as at least the lead candidate for passing situations. Croskey-Merritt answers with a lack of displayed ability in that area, which increases the importance of winning early-down work and goal-line opportunities.
Allen left Penn State as the all-time leader in carries and rushing yards. He ranked ninth in the Draft Sharks rookie model and will battle Croskey-Merritt for rushing duties.
Ford and holdover Jeremy McNichols must prove they belong in the competition.
Jayden Daniels is a major factor in any Washington RB projection. One of the league's most dangerous rushing QBs, he averaged 8.8 carries per game over the past two seasons. Daniels overall rushing efficiency can take away carries from the RBs behind him. The Commanders ranked 31st in RB Carry Share (71.2%) in 2025 and 32nd in RB Carry Share (67.3%) in 2024.
The offensive scheme change is another interesting variable. New OC David Blough, promoted from assistant QBs coach after two seasons, has never called plays. That makes this offense difficult to project.
Blough wants to put Daniels under center more, use more play-action, and run multiple personnel groupings.
Washington led the league in shotgun rate (86.9%) and no-huddle rate (60.8%) in 2025 under Kliff Kingsbury. More under-center work and play action also point to the run game remaining central to Washington’s plan. The Commanders ran at the league’s sixth-highest rate in 2024, with Daniels healthy.
Washington returns four of five starters on the O-line, with Nick Allegretti replacing Tyler Biadasz at center after signing a two-year extension in March. Allegretti has just two career starts there, but continuity along the rest of the line should keep the run blocking functional.
Croskey-Merritt's ceiling is an RB3 finish built on TD upside. Croskey-Merritt’s 15th ranked 4.60 yards per carry show his efficiency could beat out White for early-down and goal-line work. His contact balance could make him a consistent scorer even within a committee. Two years ago the Commanders had a similar committee split with Brian Robinson Jr. handling the early down work (like Croskey-Merritt may) with 13.4 carries per game Austin Ekeler, in the potential White receiving role, with 6.4 carries per game. A similar split in 2026 helps Croskey-Merritt hit his ceiling.
The risk is limited, inconsistent usage. White's pass protection and experience could push Croskey-Merritt into a smaller role, Allen could overtake him for touches, and Croskey-Merritt's receiving limitations leave him vulnerable to disappearing on passing downs, especially in PPR leagues.
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt's Pass-Game Improvements Boost Fantasy Outlook
Jacory Croskey-Merritt's Pass-Game Improvements Boost Fantasy Outlook
Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt impressed as a runner in his 2025 rookie season, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and ranking 12th among 51 qualifiers in rush yards over expected per attempt. But his fantasy value was capped by minimal receiving production: Just 9 catches across 17 games. That followed scant passing-game usage in college, with JCM totaling just 34 grabs in 44 outings. But word out of Commanders camp is that Croskey-Merritt has been seeing more work as a receiver and showing improvement in that department.
Is Rachaad White the Commanders RB to Draft?
Is Rachaad White the Commanders RB to Draft?
Washington presents one of the most interesting backfields to watch for potential 2026 fantasy value. Why? The Commanders ranked fifth in the league in scoring and seventh in total yards with a healthy QB Jayden Daniels in 2024. That team also ranked top 5 in rushing attempts, rushing yards, yards per attempt, and rushing TDs. And although the QB helped those numbers, Washington RBs also tallied the league’s 11th-most PPR points that season. That group found Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler finishing 30th and 32nd, respectively, in PPR points per game. Even last year’s struggling Commanders offense -- with just seven games from Daniels -- still finished ninth in rushing attempts, fourth in yards, fifth in yards per carry and eighth in TDs. This year’s backfield swapped out Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez for multiple new candidates but lacks role clarity as we head toward summer. That’s why it’s important to track the buzz from practices.
Kaytron Allen Lands with the Commanders in Round 6
Kaytron Allen Lands with the Commanders in Round 6
The Washington Commanders selected Penn State RB Kaytron Allen in Round 6 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Allen brings one of the most well-rounded profiles in this RB class. The four-year contributor rushed for 867 yards and 10 TDs as a freshman. Over his final two seasons, Allen piled up 2,411 yards and 23 TDs on 430 carries, out-producing teammate Nick Singleton. Allen finished as Penn State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 yards. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Allen ranked second in 2025 rushing market share (61.2%), and fifth in yards after contact per attempt (3.77). He ranked fourth in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.27) and 20th in receiving yards per route run (0.48). He is currently 23 years old.
Washington Adds Jerome Ford to Committee of Meh
Washington Adds Jerome Ford to Committee of Meh
The Commanders have agreed to a one-year deal with RB Jerome Ford. The former fifth-round pick spent the past four seasons in Cleveland. His high point came in 2023, with a 204-813-4 rushing line and 44 receptions for 319 yards and 5 TDs on 63 targets. That was the year Nick Chubb went down with a Week 2 knee injury. Ford dipped to 104 carries in 2024 but maintained a nice receiving role, leading the backfield in targets, catches, and yards. He fell behind Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson on last year's depth chart before hitting the open market.
Commanders Add Rachaad White To Backfield
Commanders Add Rachaad White To Backfield
The Commanders are signing RB Rachaad White to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. We'll see about the money involved, but the length of the contract means Washington isn't making a major commitment. White has spent the last four seasons in Tampa Bay, averaging 664 rushing yards, 363 receiving yards, and 6.3 total TDs per season.
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