Football Jones
Footballguy
You'll have to ask the broadcaster that called him a special talent. I haven't gone nearly that far yet.
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RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, WAS (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter rockaction
- Start date
Football Jones
Footballguy
By the way, I don't get what tends to tweek people about calling someone special, lol. A lot of people use the word 'special' like other people use the word 'outstanding'. Bill certainly has some outstanding traits. We heard people call Jeanty "special" all offseason.
I see some things with Bill, but I'm holding off on calling him special. Bottom line is it's not hard to understand why people are high on his dynasty prospects.
I see some things with Bill, but I'm holding off on calling him special. Bottom line is it's not hard to understand why people are high on his dynasty prospects.
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dgreen
Footballguy
Bill had the only RB target. And he also had the most snaps at RB.
ffmail4me
Footballguy
I think people are overreacting here. If he starts fumbling, or getting stuffed at the line over and over, then yeah, you bury the guy. But he has looked excellent in his limited carries. He did in the shrine bowl, he did during the preseason. He's a rookie, 3 games in, on a team that just shook up their RB stable trading away B-Rob (who most of us agree was just a JAG, so it was the right move) I will come back and eat crow if I'm wrong, but by the end of next month (if not much sooner) he's going to be the clear #1 back in DC. He has vision, cutting ability and speed that I don't think the other backs have. And just watch him on gameday, he clearly LOVES playing football. To me, that does matter. They say he's coachable, wants to get better, and to me at least, it sounds like the staff loves him. I'm happy to hold on with hope. This past weekend I sat him in leagues I had better options (and started him in a few where I had no choice) and I'm doing just fine.
Chaka
Footballguy
Yup. Don't know where the X poster got their numbers from but yesterday it was JCM 23 snaps (40%), Rodriguez 22 (38%), McNichols 15 (26%). Opportunities were JCM 9, Rodriguez 11, McNichols 4
On the season that holds up but the season numbers are skewed by Ekeler's presence.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Looked like Rodriguez was being used early in the football game, whatever the depth chart reads he was given the start when the game began
11/39 on the ground, not much noise about him
McNichols made the most out of his opp with just 4 touches but 78 yds and a TD, not sure how you can anticipate plugging him into your line up
Then you have Bill with 8/26/TD and 1 catch, right around 10 points but TD dependent, he's not the lead RB on the team right now and hasn't done anything to warrant it
Kind of surprised Washington had any success at all with Daniels out of the line up, still managed to whoop up on them 41-24, still no solid answers in relation to FF
11/39 on the ground, not much noise about him
McNichols made the most out of his opp with just 4 touches but 78 yds and a TD, not sure how you can anticipate plugging him into your line up
Then you have Bill with 8/26/TD and 1 catch, right around 10 points but TD dependent, he's not the lead RB on the team right now and hasn't done anything to warrant it
Kind of surprised Washington had any success at all with Daniels out of the line up, still managed to whoop up on them 41-24, still no solid answers in relation to FF
Football Jones
Footballguy
I think Bill could start getting the most snaps every game (somebody said he did yesterday), but I can see Rodriguez/McNichols still getting a good amount of work. Washington very likely had a specific plan for Bill and they're sticking to it (at least for now).
I suspect they'll hand over the reigns sometime this season, but it could take awhile.
I suspect they'll hand over the reigns sometime this season, but it could take awhile.
fatness
Footballguy
RUSHING
McNichols 4/78/1
Mariota 6/40/1
Rodriguez 11/39/0
Bill 8/26/1
Samuel 3/18/0
RECEIVING
Samuel 2/11/0
Bill 1/5/0
https://www.nfl.com/games/raiders-at-commanders-2025-reg-3?tab=stats
McNichols 4/78/1
Mariota 6/40/1
Rodriguez 11/39/0
Bill 8/26/1
Samuel 3/18/0
RECEIVING
Samuel 2/11/0
Bill 1/5/0
https://www.nfl.com/games/raiders-at-commanders-2025-reg-3?tab=stats
FantasyGuru24
Footballguy
Neither are Rodriguez or McNichols .. They’ve just been in the offense longer and with a back qb playing pass protection is priority #1 .. JCM will be fine. You’re worrying about a 7th rounder .. How about the first rounder Jeanty, or even Henderson or Harvey .. How’s that working out?
ffmail4me
Footballguy
Great points. Definitely not the best year for rookie RBs out of the gate. Outside of Egbuka and McMillan you could say the same at WR too. Buts its still very early.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
…
I’m not worried about JCM at all. My entry fee was incredibly affordable. I might still try to get a 2nd for him. Or maybe I’ll hold to see if he gets better/more use. I paid a 17.11 start-up pick for him, so he’s profitable for me regardless.
like non sequiturs? lol
I’m not worried about JCM at all. My entry fee was incredibly affordable. I might still try to get a 2nd for him. Or maybe I’ll hold to see if he gets better/more use. I paid a 17.11 start-up pick for him, so he’s profitable for me regardless.
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King of the Jungle
Footballguy
This is a kid who essentially did not play football last year. I think as he continues to grow he will have a chance to see his role do the same.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Yeah, he’s passed my eye-test. That’s why I’ve resisted trying to sell.
ffmail4me
Footballguy
Don't do it man, he's worth waiting on. We know what we have outside of him. And we have all said B-Rob was a JAG, and none of the other RBs could unseat him the last 2 years. So why do we think they will keep him on the bench for long? I certainly don't think that's what will happen.
ohio#1eaglesfan
Footballguy
Jordan Mason was just a jag to almost everyone on this forum until he wasn’t. Rodriguez is the same type of rusher and would eat if he was featured in this offense.
ffmail4me
Footballguy
I disagree, I've loved Mason from his rookie year and know he's way more than a JAG. He has always produced at a high level when CMC was hurt.
ohio#1eaglesfan
Footballguy
Did you read my first sentence? I said “almost everyone.” That would put you in the camp who didn’t think he was a jag. I was his biggest supporter, check his thread
Penguin
Footballguy
Even at the time I would have done this trade 100x out of 100x. Mid 1st in a 14 team league for my pick at 6.12 (pick 82). B.Rob gets traded, Ackler on IR and JCS is a middling RB3 with poor draft capital, I'll take my chances on next year's mid 1st, pure profit
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
I’ve been driving the Mason bandwagon on here for months.
I don’t see JCM as the same tier.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
If I am offered any 1st round pick for JCM, I’m instantly going to be the owner of a shiny new 1st round pick.
Bonus: roster spots are valuable too.
higgins
Footballguy
Out of curiosity: Would you change your mind based upon (1) Bill not having much quality competition; (2) Bill having the singular most athletic QB in the NFL who is simultaneously young; (3) Bill having a coaching staff/situation that isn’t changing anytime soon? I ask because that type of situation is ideal — if he’s got the talent, the aforementioned situations would make him a top 2 or 3 pick (if not 1) for many astute people.
(HULK)
(Smash)
Here's how I see it. Until Bill STARTS and get carries on the first 2 series, he's just a wildcard flex. Once he's starting though, he's an RB2.
All 3 games he hasn't seen the field until the 3rd series. All 3 games he's done real well with the ball in his hands, gotten yards that were not given to him. He looks way better than any other RB on the roster when it comes to that, including Ekeler. The downfall is the team still doesn't trust him in pass protection. And some big sacks have happened with him on the field, including this past weekend (although I'd argue that wasn't really his fault last week).
If we're looking for signs of him taking control of the backfield, we should be looking for him to play the 2nd series, and then eventually to start. He's earning it IMO. I'm sure they're drilling pass protection with him a ton too.
It was nice to see that sometime between the preseason and today, he earned the goalline role. At some point this season, he'll earn the lead back starting role too. I suspect that happens by mid-October at the latest.
warpig33
Footballguy
He's a RB in the NFL and was a 7th round pick. In todays NFL environment, he will always share a backfield with someone else and most likely never be a workhorse back. Almost a guarantee WAS will draft another RB next year (if not several more). Just how it is as a RB in todays NFL That 1st rounder can be a stud WR or TE that you can rely on more than a RB rotation.
warpig33
Footballguy
The head coach says he is comfortable with a rotation:
www.si.com
Commanders head coach reveals running back plan moving forward
The Washington Commanders have had to alter their running back plans after the team traded Brian Robinson Jr. in the preseason and Austin Ekeler tore his Achill
pinkstapler
Footballguy
Not OP, but seeing as I agree with his trade I'd answer no. 22 carries across 3 games doesn't outweigh his draft capital and college profile to such an extent that he'd be worth a 1st round rookie pick for me. And while this is obviously subjective, I don't think the tape for those 22 carries is showing anything that special either. It SEEMS special when in context of what he cost the people who drafted him and already own him. Value changes with context. And I don't think anyone would deny his value from April to August and from August till now has gone up, drastically. But there are still way too many ifs and buts to be attributing a top 3 first round rookie pick to this kid IMO. Looking at those though, IF he just does what he's been doing for the rest of this season on his end AND increases his snap count and touches a bit, sure I can see a consensus value rising up into the first round of a rookie pick. But even then, top 3 feels like it will the sellers value a lot more than any buyers. Probably the only thing that might tweak that a bit is 2026 is projected to be a weak class and a lot of people are unexcited about it. But to reframe it, you're more or less saying people who drafted Jeanty and Hampton would be willing to trade them straight up for JCM and I just don't think that is even close to the case right now. And all things being equal, I don't see us being there by the end of this season either.
higgins
Footballguy
Well I guess we’ll find out soon enough, for year 1 at least.
pinkstapler
Footballguy
It goes a little bit off topic, but relevant to this value discussion. An early first round pick will always be a hard get, especially for a RB. The majority of early 1st round picks are owned by bad teams, either by losing the previous season, or just because one of the most common trade scenarios is a competitive team trading away it's picks to a mid level or bad team for established players to gain an edge and push for a championship. And obviously that non competative/bad team would usually prefer a pick over a player who isn't helping them win, plus it helps them "tank the right way" and make their future picks even higher.
Most of those bad teams aren't one player away from competing. And even if they'd rather take the known quantity of a "proven" player over the dice roll of a rookie pick; very rarely are they doing it for a RB as they are the shortest lifespan position in fantasy, and tend to be the most injury prone and volatile year over year. So almost regardless of how JCM does, or even if we pick any other random RB, IME getting an early first round pick for one is just not something that happens that often because of all the surrounding circumstances.
Riffraff
Footballguy
Just for accuracy. It was your 2.12 pick (pick 26), not the 6th round.
But outstanding value regardless as we all know that mid/late 2nd rounders and beyond usually don't even get drafted in start-ups. Trade those every day of the week to the ageists and guys that like to annually pay for other's Christmas presents.
Chaka
Footballguy
How many tiers higher do you see him?
MTskibum
Footballguy
I am holding in a deep dynasty where I got him late 3rd round. Jacob Gibbs was quite high on Bill this offseason so i will hold.
He is still a lottery ticket, but he is a 7th rounder who convinced the front office that they had depth enough to trade away a RB and he has managed to get more early season work than even first round runningbacks like Harvey.
I am not ready to give up just yet. I dont think I will trade him, i will hold him until next offseason at which point i should know what i have, either a cut candidate or a mid/low end RB #2. This would have value to me, since the league I am holding him in we start 3 flex spots. Getting warm bodies for that 3rd flex spot can be difficult.
He is still a lottery ticket, but he is a 7th rounder who convinced the front office that they had depth enough to trade away a RB and he has managed to get more early season work than even first round runningbacks like Harvey.
I am not ready to give up just yet. I dont think I will trade him, i will hold him until next offseason at which point i should know what i have, either a cut candidate or a mid/low end RB #2. This would have value to me, since the league I am holding him in we start 3 flex spots. Getting warm bodies for that 3rd flex spot can be difficult.
Football Jones
Footballguy
I think that's a reasonable trade if you're not high on Bill, but it's far from certain whether you'll profit. You might very well lose that deal...maybe by a lot.
I will say it's much better than some of the trades I saw when Bill started getting some hype. Given what I can see with my eyeballs, no way I trade him for a late 2nd, which is around 25 prospects deep in a 14-team league.
Zow
Footballguy
Yeah that's a steal by you - even if JCM becomes a viable RB2.
It was a great deal for you, especially considering Jaydon Blue was drafted 7 picks earlier (2.05 in that league) and was flipped for a 2026 3rd.
But for clarification, JCM was your 2.12 (pick 26) in that league, but still, flipping that for a likely mid-1st is pure profit.
Football Jones
Footballguy
I like how people are calling deals a steal right now, lol. We don't know what Bill's ceiling is yet. I can think of some trades that would be considered a steal, but I haven't see one yet.
Nothing much wrong with taking a mid-1st in '26. That means you're playing it safe and taking some potential profit, but Bill has enough traits where you could easily lose that deal.
Nothing much wrong with taking a mid-1st in '26. That means you're playing it safe and taking some potential profit, but Bill has enough traits where you could easily lose that deal.
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Is it though? Isn't this like a stock? Sure right now it may seem like a profit but then you draft a bust with that pick (most rookies bust) and Bill becomes the main RB and produces RB2 points and it no longer is a profit.
I don't think anyone knows if it's profit or not.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Redraft? Several.
Dynasty? A couple. Age goes a long way for dynasty, but Mason is locked into a 2-year role with a great Vikings offense.
JCM is mired in a RBBC & with a little luck the Commanders won’t draft his replacement this coming offseason.
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Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: No practice due to knee injury
Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt: No practice due to knee injury
www.cbssports.com
Brunell4MVP
Footballguy
Classic RBBC in DC. Assuming they aren't trailing big in a game, any of the 3 RBs could put up a decent 80 yard, 1 TD game. Good luck determining who it is. These coaches like to keep players fresh, on both sides of the ball. I would not expect a workhorse in the backfield unless there are injuries to the others.
ohio#1eaglesfan
Footballguy
No I was talking about hyping him up since his rookie year not this year. I’ve been sold on mason since his rookie preseason.
Rodriguez is a similar type runner imo and will produce like him if given the chance
Penguin
Footballguy
I'll do that deal 100x out of 100x
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
As a Niner fan I’ve been right there with you.
Imma pump the breaks on this part. Mason has proved to be a decisive runner with a good power/speed combo. Great vision, breaks tackles.
JCM hasn’t earned this comparison yet. He could, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it. Here’s hoping it’s there. I’d like nothing more than WAS committing to JCM like I think MIN will commit to Mason next year.
ohio#1eaglesfan
Footballguy
I’m in the wrong thread. I’m talking about Chris Rodriguez
Sure but that is different than declaring that the deal is "pure profit". Profit isn't known at this time. That doesn't mean it's not a good deal.
Of course you would. Every single person in the world would do that. Problem here is that it's no longer pick 26. It is a player that has plusses and minuses. It's a different evaluation of the deal than sheer pick numbers.
This is like saying 4 weeks into a season I am not going to trade you my first round pick for your 8th round pick just because you would never trade a 1st round pick for an 8th round pick. Doesn't matter that your 1st round pick is out for the year and my 8th round pick is the #10 WR on the year.
Once the pick has been made and a player has info about their role, usage, performance, etc where he was drafted is irrelevant with respect to value.
