Austin Ekeler
Ekeler is a veteran change-of-pace and receiving back in a rebuilt Washington backfield. His workload this week is bigger because Croskey-Merritt is out, but the longer-term role is unsettled.
Role
Ekeler re-signed in Week 4, after being unsigned through the preseason and the first three weeks. In his first game back, a Week 4 loss to Indianapolis, he played 17 offensive snaps (27%), behind Croskey-Merritt's 29 (45%) and ahead of rookie Kaytron Allen's 12 (19%). He had 4 carries for 29 yards and 1 catch for 11 yards, on 2 targets (SI, Fox Sports, about Oct. 4). Rachaad White (shoulder) missed that game. A Yardbarker item says Ekeler has 23 offensive snaps across two appearances. Rotowire (Oct. 17) says Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) is ruled out for Monday's Week 6 game against the 49ers, and that Ekeler and White are both expected to lead the backfield. Croskey-Merritt has been placed on IR. The competition for work is White, Allen and Ekeler. I could not confirm a Week 5 snap share or a current depth chart. The Rotowire depth chart snippet appeared stale, so I am not reporting it.
With Croskey-Merritt out, the Commanders have a thin backfield, and Rotowire expects Ekeler and White to lead it on Monday night. Washington brought him back quickly and used him right away, and he played more than Allen in his first game. A Yahoo piece describes his patience and vision as elite, and notes he could serve as an early-down back or a kickoff returner. He was limited in practice with the chest injury but carries no designation.
CBS Sports says White has established himself as the top pass-catching and change-of-pace back, which was Ekeler's specialty. CBS also says Ekeler may struggle to carve out a consistent role. His 27% snap share in London came with White out. White's return was expected to shift the snap numbers again. He is 31 and coming off the Achilles injury he suffered in Week 2 of 2025. His efficiency so far is modest.
Where analysts split
The open question is how snaps split between Ekeler and White now that Croskey-Merritt is out. One view, from Yahoo, is that Ekeler can fill several roles, including early-down work. The other view, from CBS, is that White already owns the receiving and change-of-pace work. Coverage is also split on Allen's standing: SI and Fan Recap read Ekeler's early snaps as a threat to Allen, while Rotowire's Week 6 note does not mention Allen. Rotowire expects both Ekeler and White to lead the backfield on Monday, but I did not find a snap projection.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at RB
Fantasy Memo reads your league and answers that every Tuesday, and checks again before kickoff.
Connect your league: 14 days free