Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Croskey-Merritt is Washington's lead back through Week 5 of 2026, but he is an inefficient runner who gets few targets and shares the work with Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler.
Role
He has been the RB1 this season. Week 4 snap counts (SI): he led the backs with 29 snaps (45%), Ekeler had 17 (27%) and rookie Kaytron Allen had 12 (19%). Fox Sports reported he was under 50% of snaps in two of the first three games. Rachaad White has mostly been the change-of-pace, pass-catching back. Ekeler was re-signed recently. Jeremy McNichols is also on the roster. The wire note shows 11 carries and no targets in the Giants tie. ESPN lists his 2026 totals at 56 carries for 157 yards and one touchdown, but that figure may predate the Giants game. I found no snap count for the Giants game.
The coaching staff has stayed with him. New offensive coordinator David Blough said in February he was "incredibly confident" in Croskey-Merritt as a starting back. SI's Week 4 piece said the team still looks committed to him as its lead back. He also has the most carries of any Washington back, and he caught a 35-yard pass against the Colts.
The efficiency is poor and the role is shrinking. FantasyData says his snap share fell from 49% in Week 1 to 37% a few weeks later. His Week 4 line was nine carries for 15 yards, a season low. Its analyst called him a bench candidate whose ceiling and floor are both low, and said it is hard to see him keeping the lead role for long. White and Ekeler give the team passing-down and veteran alternatives. Last season he drew only a 3% target share (ESPN).
Where analysts split
The disagreement is whether he holds the lead role. SI reads Ekeler's 27% of snaps as a sign the staff wants other options but still sees Croskey-Merritt as the lead back. FantasyData expects his workload to keep falling because of his poor efficiency. The reporting does not settle who gets the pass-catching and third-down work between White and Ekeler.
Injury: IR: assessed avoid
Groin injury, placed on IR
Croskey-Merritt is on injured reserve with a groin injury and is slated to miss at least three more games beyond Week 6, through Week 10, with Rachaad White stepping into the lead role.
What would change this: Any update on his practice return as the expected Week 11 (Nov. 23) timeline approaches.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at RB
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