Washington’s backfield shakeup dominates preseason chatter as Brian Robinson Jr. looks primed for a possible exit via trade or release. With the fourth-year RB sidelined, rookies Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jacory Croskey-Merritt seized the moment, combining for 73 yards on four carries behind the first unit in the Bengals tune-up. Rodriguez’s six carries for 62 yards and Croskey-Merritt’s 27-yard TD highlight a run-heavy attack, while the club weighs its 53-man roster and injury risk ahead of early September. The fallout factors into fantasy drafts as Washington weighs its options and the RB room faces a pivotal competition this week against the Ravens before final cuts.

The situation isn’t isolated to Washington. The article cites the broader trade market—fans recall deals like Mason and Mixon’s moves—to illustrate the kinds of value that can fetch late-round picks. If a trade doesn’t materialize, Washington is ready to move on, with $3.4 million owed for 2025 shaping decisions. In the wings, Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt are positioned as favorites to inherit Robinson’s workload, while veterans Felton, Allen and McNichols battle for roles and special-teams value as the rosters take shape.

The Cincinnati Bengals opened Week 2 of the NFL preseason with a win that felt morelike a warning than a celebration. Cincinnati looked porous defensively without Trey Hendrickson, as Washington’s run game carved through the starting unit from the opening sequence. Hendrickson remains away from practice and sideline in the middle of a contract dispute over guaranteed money, even as he nears a resolution in terms of annual value and length. The Bengals reportedly would guarantee only one year, keeping any long-term guarantees at bay while Hendrickson weighs his options. Joe Burrow signaled deals tend to land late, around Week 1, which aligns with Hendrickson’s timing and the team’s cap calculus. Washington, meanwhile, sat Brian Robinson Jr. for trade-talk reasons, yet the Commanders still executed multiple productive early carries against Cincinnati’s defense. This tug-of-war over guarantees adds a layer of drama to the upcoming season, particularly for fantasy managers who count Hendrickson’s sacks as a cornerstone of their defensive stacks. Hendrickson’s Pro Bowl pedigree and 17.5 sacks last season keep his upside intact, but the holdout introduces volatility at a critical juncture. The developing contract dynamic could shape Cincinnati’s defensive identity and Week 1 readiness, making Hendrickson a high-leverage but high-uncertainty asset for fantasy rosters until a deal lands.

Washington’s backfield is shifting. The Commanders reportedly will not rely on Brian Robinson Jr. in the immediate future as they shop him for a late-round pick, keeping him out of a preseason game to reduce injury risk. The move signals a broader reallocation of touches behind a bruiser-style runner, with Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols showing per-play efficiency that outpaces Robinson. Seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has flashed spark and quickness Washington covets at the position, suggesting a committee approach rather than a single workhorse. Ownership duties could tilt toward a multi-faceted attack that leans on zone reads and misdirection, leveraging Ekeler’s versatility and Deebo Samuel’s ball-handling usage in similar spread concepts. Fantasy managers should watch for movement by Robinson, but also the rapid reclamation of Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt as core depth with real-weekly upside. Washington’s roster decisions could redefine ceiling for the 2024 RB group, privileging efficiency, scheme-fit, and the ability to keep workloads manageable across a 16-game slate.