Aug 22, 2025 2:25 PM EDT
After several days of speculation, Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. will be traded to the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Network. The move has widespread ramifications for fantasy football heading into one of the busiest draft weekends of the year.
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How the Trade Affects Brian Robinson Jr.’s Fantasy Value
In the short term, it’s a massive blow to Robinson’s fantasy football worth, dropping him from a solid point-per-reception RB3, and even fringe No. 2 in standard scoring, down to a speculative No. 4 or handcuff to Christian McCaffrey.
The extent of Robinson’s fantasy potential is directly tied to whether McCaffrey can stay healthy, something that has been an issue at times in his illustrious career, most recently when lower-body injuries sidelined the top fantasy pick most of the 2024 season. Now, while CMC is fully healthy at present time and has looked like his former self in the offseason, he is still 29 years old and has a healthy reading on the ole odometer. Injuries at his age tend to linger, and last year’s Achilles tendinitis never will be far from the forefront of fantasy gamers’ thoughts when his name surfaces during draft prep.
If you’re a McCaffrey owner, securing BRJ as an insurance policy is imperative. San Fran’s offensive design has proven countless times that the jersey’s nameplate is largely irrelevant when it comes to fantasy utility — it merely dictates to what degree of success one can expect. This deal effectively removes Isaac Guerendo and rookie Jordan James from fantasy draft consideration, though they could become relevant off the waiver wire if McCaffrey goes down again.
Which Commanders Running Backs Should You Now Target?
A majority of the work should be divided between veteran Austin Ekeler and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Veteran Chris Rodriguez also will factor in to an extent. Let’s take a closer look at how each player shapes up for fantasy football drafts in 2025.
Should You Draft Austin Ekeler?
Ekeler is long in the tooth for an NFL running back at 30 years old, and he has missed action in consecutive seasons after emerging as an unlikely fantasy stud during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. So long as he can stay on the field, his versatility will be useful for fantasy owners in PPR scoring.
He is a much better option on third downs and obvious passing situations than Croskey-Merritt, whose nickname “Bill” is likely to get shouted aplenty from the stands this season. Ekeler presents RB3 worth in conventional league sizes but could sneak into fringe PPR RB2 land with a resurgent performance. Don’t bank on it, however, and be content with a No. 3 showing.
Will Jacory Croskey-Merritt Steal the Show?
A 2025 seventh-round selection from Arizona, Croskey-Merritt played in only one game last year due to eligibility issues and slid in the draft as a result. He’s a crafty runner whose vision and maneuverability jump off the screen, but his work in the aerial game leaves something to be desired.
That makes him a fine complementary option alongside Ekeler, but JCM isn’t a slam dunk to rule the world just yet. Bill has to contend with the aforementioned Rodriguez, a third-year pro with a similar skill set. He, too, isn’t particularly dangerous catching passes out of the backfield but brings a dynamic element as a runner, as evidenced by averaging 4.85 yards per carry over his first 86 NFL totes.
It could boil down to a hot-hand scenario for the primary rushing chores in Washington, which would be maddening, but fantasy gamers are going to lean heavily into drafting Croskey-Merritt over Rodriguez, so the latter presents some late-round bang for your buck. He’s slightly larger at 6-foot, 217 pounds, which could help pushing the pile near the stripe.
For now, the optimistic view is Croskey-Merritt, 5-foot-10, 206 pounds, carries his strong offseason into the regular season and never looks back, losing only the occasional series to Rodriguez. That would be ideal for fantasy purposes and likely result in a high-end RB3 result with a top-24 finish being within reach.
The last bit of information gamers should weigh before investing in this backfield is Jayden Daniels’ rushing ability. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year ran for 891 yards and six touchdowns, largely at the expense of Washington running backs’ fantasy value. Even with Daniels stealing opportunities, Ekeler and Robinson both finished inside the RB3 range last year during injury-shortened efforts. You’re not going to be able to avoid that reality with a mobile quarterback in the picture as it helps make this whole thing work in the first place.
About the Author
Cory Bonini
Fantasy Sports Managing Editor
Since 2002, Bonini has been a leading fantasy football expert, featured in Sports Weekly, Pro Forecast, Cheat Sheets, and Fantasy Index magazines, with frequent appearances on ESPN Radio, SiriusXM, and various podcasts.