Washington Commanders are moving on from Brian Robinson Jr., a rare true starter in today’s backfields, with a plan to roll in four RBs—Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez—potentially even eating salary to secure a draft-day asset. Fantasy managers should anticipate a crowded workload and shift expectations away from Robinson toward the quartet, especially if Ekeler anchors the ground game and return duties.

Meanwhile, Tyler Warren is highlighted in Colts coverage as a polished, sure-handed rookie tight end with strong yards-after-the-catch potential who could push TE1 status in mid-round drafts. Ladd McConkey has drawn high praise from Jim Harbaugh, hinting at a bigger role in 2025. In Washington, Terry McLaurin remains a focal point of the passing game, with trade chatter and lineup moves continuing to shape the Commanders’ fantasy map.

Six late-round lottery tickets headline Thunder Dan Paylo's 2025 fantasy football sleepers, with clear paths to breakout if things break right in the offense. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Woody Marks, Dont'e Thornton Jr., Elijah Arroyo, Adonai Mitchell, and Isaac TeSlaa are highlighted as high-upside targets you can realistically snag in the final rounds for upside rather than roster fill.

Strategy centers on exploiting depth-chart openings: Croskey-Merritt could gain touches if Washington moves on from Brian Robinson Jr.; Marks steps in as a potential early-down/backup weapon for Houston; Thornton Jr. profiles as a big-field WR who could emerge as Raiders’ WR2; Arroyo offers big-play upside at tight end with Noah Fant gone; Mitchell and TeSlaa carry upside as late-round bets in Indy and Detroit, respectively, if their quarterbacks improve or injuries create opportunities.

The piece stresses the draft’s middle rounds as the frontier, where knowing top handcuffs and rookie depth charts matters. Autodraft aside, these sleepers form a cohesive late-round group that could anchor fantasy rosters in weeks to come, especially in best-ball and superflex formats, where volatility can translate to weekly rewards.

RotoBaller's August update delivers the 2025 FLEX draft rankings for RBs, WRs, and TEs with tiered clarity to dominate drafts. The piece centers on standout early-value targets like Jeudy, Etienne, and Allen, while spotlighting sleepers such as Keon Coleman and Colston Loveland. It emphasizes how a high-volume pass attack or committee backfield can shift FLEX value and how injury news and roster changes will continually reshape picks through Week 1. A branded call to leverage multiple ranking portals and formats remains a theme, encouraging readers to bookmark the site for 14 different ranking types and various scoring settings.

Jerry Jeudy’s chemistry boost with Flacco in Cleveland adds a compelling high-floor floor floor argument for WR value, while Etienne Jr. in Jacksonville hints at a large workload even in a crowded backfield. Keenan Allen’s target-dense profile is framed as a reliable bye-week anchor in PPR formats, and Colston Loveland’s late-round TE upside in Chicago offers a dart-throw path in shallow or best-ball leagues. The FLEX ladder also nods to Keon Coleman and other wideouts, reinforcing the idea that roster construction in 2025 hinges on identifyingTiered gems at multiple positions rather than chasing a single position’s early stars.

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.