The Commanders lose Austin Ekeler in what is shaping up to be a season ending injury in the form of a torn Achilles.
Austin Ekeler, a longtime friend to the fantasy football community is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles in the Commanders Monday Night Football loss to the Green Bay Packers. The injury comes at a time where the team is looking to make a leap to the Super Bowl.
While Ekeler was on the downside of his career, he was a serviceable factor in the receiving game for the Commanders backfield. After trading away Brian Robinson the split so far has been between Ekeler and rising rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The duo along with quarterback Jayden Daniels only managed 51 total rushing yards while all 3 had 17 rushing yards respectively against the Packers formidable defense in Week 2.
Expect speedster Chris Rodgriguez to be active Week 3 as he has been a healthy scratch the first 2 games of the season. Merritt (Bill), will likely get the bulk of carries and opportunity share moving forward. His 14.2 fantasy points got him the Pepsi Rookie of the Week award in Week 1. Rumors of a trade abound for a more talented and well known back, but that shouldn’t deter fantasy gamers from keeping Merritt on their redraft rosters to see how things play out in the Commanders backfield.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The Washington Commanders have traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers, freeing up potentially huge fantasy roles for Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
With Brian Robinson out of the way, late-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has become a very popular riser. The 24-year-old Arizona grad has impressed in camp and looked explosive in the preseason. He’s a candidate for early down work in what should be a highly productive offense. His supporters are hoping he turns into a workhorse and league winner.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., a sixth-round pick back in 2023, has also garnered high praise, specifically from Head Coach Dan Quinn, who suggested that he is the favorite to take over Robinson’s opportunities in short yardage and around the goal line. Austin Ekeler remains in the mix as well and will probably work in on third downs and in the passing games. Of course, QB Jayden Daniels will chew up yards and TDs on the ground as well.
All this is to say that while JCM has a chance to be a significant value in the later rounds, moving all of one’s chips into the center of the table to draft the rookie above ADP may be overzealous. Buy JCM even on this recent surge.
Due to uncertainty regarding snap share and an underwhelming college profile, drafters should not be reaching beyond the 8th or 9th round. Christian Rodriguez is there in the later rounds as well and both he and Ekeler will mix in and have solid weeks throughout the season.
–Blake Stachel (@bllakkay)
Washington running back Chris Rodriguez injured his ankle and will miss the team’s final two games of the regular season.
Chris Rodriguez is headed to injured reserve after leading the Washington backfield in rush attempts. He suffered an ankle injury in the Commanders’ narrow loss to the Jets in week 16. Washington hasn’t revealed the extent of the injury, however, it was significant enough for them to rule him out for the team’s final two games. He will look to recover and compete for carries in 2024 under a new-look offense.
Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson will now likely form a two-tandem backfield once again for the Commanders. Robinson has missed the team’s last two games but appears to be trending toward playing in week 17. Gibson on the other hand has been healthy but didn’t see an increased role even in the absence of Robinson.
For fantasy purposes, neither has much upside against a tough 49ers defense in week 17. Robinson will see the early down work and Gibson will operate on passing downs, capping each other’s upside. They will be flex options and RB3s though for managers in their fantasy football championships.
