Don’t look now, but one of the most intriguing rookie running backs in 2025 fantasy football is quietly making serious noise in Washington.
Seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt has gone from unknown to undeniable through the first week of Commanders training camp. With first-team reps already under his belt on Tuesday and praise coming from both beat writers and the coaching staff, it’s time to stop sleeping on JCM and start taking him seriously in deep leagues and best ball formats.
Let’s break down why Croskey-Merritt is a name worth tracking as fantasy draft season ramps up.
COMMANDERS’ BACKFIELD IS RIPE FOR THE TAKING
Let’s be honest: Washington’s running back room isn’t exactly loaded with talent in its prime.
Brian Robinson Jr. is the starter on paper, but he’s been more of a sledgehammer through two NFL seasons, averaging a little less than 800 rushing yards per season. Austin Ekeler, meanwhile, enters his age-30 season in a role that looks more like a third-down specialist than the fantasy cheat code he once was. Add in Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols, two fine role pieces, and you’ve got a wide-open backfield waiting for a spark.
Enter Croskey-Merritt.
Just a week into camp and fresh off the first padded practice, multiple Commanders beat writers have pegged the rookie as the most impressive back on the field so far. Rick Snyder even predicted that Croskey-Merritt would be Washington’s starting running back by December.
Dan Quinn and the staff have taken notice, too. “It’s the violence of the cuts,” Quinn said when asked about the rookie. “He gets his shoulders square and gets downhill fast… He’s off to a really good start.”
SHADY’ESQUE EXPLOSIVENESS
Croskey-Merritt might not be a household name, but he brings rare athletic traits to the table.
At 24 years old, he’s a bit older for a rookie, but he’s far from worn down because his college career maxed out at just 209 FBS touches. He still has plenty of tread on the tires. At the Shrine Bowl, he clocked a 4.41 forty-yard dash, leapt 41.5 inches in the vertical, and posted a record-setting -7.29 yds/sec² max deceleration, which measures how quickly a player can stop on a dime.
Translation: elite stop-start ability, the kind that separates guys who get tackled from guys who make defenders miss. On tape, you’ll see flashes of Shady McCoy’s slippery burst, especially on zone runs and cutbacks. His violent cuts and ability to get vertical in a hurry are exactly what this backfield needs.
WHERE DID HE COME FROM?!
Croskey-Merritt’s journey to the league has been anything but linear.
A zero-star recruit coming out of Montgomery, Alabama, he began his college career at FCS Alabama State. After a productive run there, he transferred to New Mexico, where he racked up 1,190 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022.
Then came his final stop, Arizona, where he hoped to boost his draft stock further on a team with preseason playoff aspirations. Unfortunately, after a 106-yard, 1-TD debut, the NCAA ruled him ineligible due to redshirt eligibility violations—crazy stuff.
Still, it was enough. Croskey-Merritt dominated at the East-West Shrine Bowl, winning MVP honors after torching defenders for 97 yards and 2 scores on just 11 carries. That showing helped him secure a spot in the 2024 NFL Draft, where Washington scooped him up in the seventh round.
JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT FANTASY OUTLOOK: LATE-ROUND DART THROW WITH MAJOR UPSIDE
Right now, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is nothing more than a deep-league stash or a late-round dart throw in best ball formats. But if the camp buzz continues, and he keeps flashing once preseason games begin, his ADP will skyrocket before the end of August.
Right now, he’s going off the board at 213.6 overall (RB70). On The Wolf’s 2025 Fantasy Rankings, he’s currently sitting at RB80, 19 spots above ECR, and steadily climbing. Those in dynasty leagues should also take notice: both Robinson and Ekeler are on expiring contracts, which means the long-term path for Croskey-Merritt could open up even further with a strong rookie campaign.
FINAL WORD: DON’T SLEEP ON JACORY CROSKEY-MERRITT
Every summer, there’s a late-round rookie back who starts to climb thanks to camp hype and real opportunity. This year, that guy might just be Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
With a climbable depth chart, elite burst and vision, and the attention of both coaches and beat writers, Croskey-Merritt has every chance to carve out a legitimate role by midseason.
You don’t need to reach. But if you’re rounding out your best ball teams or looking for sleepers with upside, JCM is a name to circle.
