​Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has emerged as one of the standout steals from the 2025 NFL Draft. Known to many as Bill, the seventh-round pick led Washington with 805 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns last season, a remarkable feat given that 24 other running backs were selected ahead of him in the draft. As a rookie, Bill averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per carry while starting only seven games, and he accomplished all of this while taking part in just 38.5% of the Commanders’ offensive snaps.
During the current offseason, speculation swirled about the Commanders’ interest in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Reports indicated interest, though how keen it was remains unclear. Love went No. 3 overall to the Arizona Cardinals, while Washington chose linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick. The team has shown that it believes in Bill, having let both Austin Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez Jr. depart and not pursuing other top free-agent backs such as Kenneth Walker III or Travis Etienne. Washington did add veteran depth, signing Rachaad White and Jerome Ford, re-signing the reliable and versatile Jeremy McNichols, and drafting Kaytron Allen in the sixth round. White is expected to play a substantial role in David Blough’s new offense, but all signs point to Croskey-Merritt serving as the lead back.
To prepare for a bigger workload, Bill bulked up this offseason and has been working on his receiving ability as well. If he does lead the Commanders’ backfield, how does he stack up against other teams’ starters? Pro Football Focus recently released a ranking of all 32 projected starting running backs for 2026, placing Croskey-Merritt at No. 30. His ascent as an underdog story last season—going from a seventh-round pick with only one college game in 2024 to the team’s leading rusher—was notable, and he posted a solid 75.4 PFF rushing grade.
Washington’s offseason moves show confidence in Croskey-Merritt by surrounding him with complementary pieces, including receiving option Rachaad White. Yet with Chris Rodriguez Jr. departing for Jacksonville, Bill is positioned to command the majority of carries. Some observers might argue he could be ranked higher than several players ahead of him, but such evaluations are fair at this stage. He has yet to prove he can carry a full workload across an entire season, and until he does, doubt will cling to him. That skepticism, however, is not unfamiliar to Bill; he has thrived amid it before.
Another factor working in Croskey-Merritt’s favor is his fit with the Commanders’ zone-blocking scheme under Blough in 2026. Paired with a healthy Jayden Daniels, the backfield could open the door to surpassing the 1,000-yard mark this season. This prediction hinges on both the offensive line performance and Bill’s durability and versatility.
This discussion originated in coverage of the Commanders, focusing on Croskey-Merritt’s role, development, and the expectations for 2026.