JCM getting more pass-catching work

A limited session to start the week is usually a non-issue, but JCM’s role was already suspect before getting banged up. He ran nine times in Week 4. Austin Ekeler, Kaytron Allen, and Craig Reynolds all combined for nine attempts. Rachaad White is also back at practice, giving the team another option beyond Bill. With health and workload concerns, JCM is barely an RB3 headed into Week 5.

White injured his shoulder in Week 3. He did not practice once last week before being ruled out on Friday. A limited practice today puts him on track to suit up in Week 5. With Austin Ekeler now on the roster, White’s role as the team’s top back on passing situations could be at risk. Fantasy managers will want to leave him on the bench for another week, even if he is cleared to play.

Bill was surprisingly involved through the air, seeing four targets, one of which he took down the sideline for a 35-yard gain early in the match. On the other hand, three different Commanders backup running backs touched the ball today. Austin Ekeler led the way with four carries. Kaytron Allen and Craig Reynolds combined for another five attempts. The Commanders have had commitment issues with Croskey-Merritt dating back to his rookie season and nothing has changed this year. He will be stuck in the back of the RB3 ranks for Week 5 against the Giants.

He didn’t practice at any point this week after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 3. He has to be considered questionable for Week 5 at this point. ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt figures to shoulder the majority of the workload for the Commanders this week and is a reasonable FLEX play against the Colts. Freshly-signed Austin Ekeler figures to handle third-down work.

With two DNPs to start the week, White looks unlikely to suit up for Week 4 against the Colts. Austin Ekeler traveled with the team after signing with the team earlier this week, so he could ultimately take on White’s role. Backup running back Kayton Allen could also see more work, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt remains the clear lead back in Washington for now. He is on the RB2/3 border for Week 4.

It sounds like White will be a question mark headed into Washington’s Week 4 game against the Colts in London. Quinn added that it’s too early to tell whether Austin Ekeler, who signed with the Commanders this week, will be active for Week 4. Jacory Croskey-Merritt could see a significant bump in carries and pass routes — and maybe targets — if White is sidelined this week. JCM, who has 58 percent of the team’s carries through three games, would be a nice flex option in that case.

White left near the end of the second quarter with a shoulder issue, but he was able to return. He was more effective than Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but considering Croskey-Merritt averaged 1.9 yards per carry, that’s not saying a lot. White has looked like the better tailback thus far, but this Commanders’ offense is one to just stay away from right now. White will be back in action in London in Week 4 against the Colts.

Croskey-Merritt had a long touchdown run wiped off the board because of an illegal formation. Outside of that, it was a struggle for the 25-year-old against the stout Seattle run defense. The long gain (that counted) was just nine yards. Croskey-Merritt has not found much room to run thus far, and it’s hard to trust him right now. His next chance to find said room comes in Week 4 against the Colts in London.

White out-snapped Jacory Croskey-Merritt 36 to 23 on Sunday and continues to play well ahead of him on third downs. White broke off a 14-yard run in the second quarter on a drive that helped set up a four-yard touchdown by Stefon Diggs, and hauled in multiple passes throughout the day with his team trailing the whole way. This performance is what we expected to see from White when the Commanders signed him to a one-year deal earlier this offseason. It’s too early to say we can confidently start him in Week 3 against the Seahawks, but he’s a worthy dart throw in deeper leagues as an RB4/FLEX if needed.

Croskey-Merritt continues to lead the Commanders’ backfield in rush attempts, but he looked like the less explosive back in this one, averaging just 3.6 YPC with his longest gain coming on a nine-yard carry. He hauled in his lone target on the day for a five-yard gain, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Rachaad White got more involved in the offense after totaling 83 yards from scrimmage on his 13 touches. Even if he does operate as the lead back next week, Croskey-Merritt will be hard to trust against a physical Seahawks defense.