Fantasy Football Player Notes

Austin Ekeler has an ADP in low-end range, but he was productive when healthy last year and is playing in an exciting, up-and-coming offense in Washington. Ekeler scored double-digit PPR points in 8-of-12 games last season and finished RB31 in fantasy points per game. When Brian Robinson Jr. missed a pair of midseason games with a hamstring injury, Ekeler had 134 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns in those two contests. I'm not expecting a return to the high-end RB1 days for the 30-year-old Ekeler, but I think he's a value in the later rounds. Ekeler's value shouldn't be affected by the emergence of seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who could replace Robinson as the Commanders' primary early-down back.

A seventh-round rookie, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been a revelation in training camp and seems poised to become the Commanders' starting RB. Croskey-Merritt, who goes by "Bill," has an unusual college production profile that included stints at Alabama State, New Mexico and Arizona. While the college production was nothing special, Croskey-Merritt's athleticism stood out at his pro day, where he clocked a 4.45 and high-jumped 41.5 inches. This surging rookie RB warrants mid-round attention in fantasy drafts and has a chance to be a pleasant surprise.

With Brian Robinson Jr. getting traded to the 49ers, Chris Rodriguez becomes the direct early down handcuff for Washington to Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Rodriguez has been awesome when called upon in his NFL career with a career 3.73 yards after contact per attempt mark and a 79.9 elusive rating (per PFF). If Bill misses anytime, Rodriguez should be the go-to early down option for Washington. He'd immediately be a strong flex play if that were to happen.