Austin Ekeler's season-ending Achilles tear strips Washington of a versatile backfield pillar, forcing a rapid reshuffle behind a rotating trio of backups. Croskey-Merritt, McNichols, and Rodriguez must absorb expanded roles after Brian Robinson Jr. was traded to San Francisco, reshaping Washington's backfield and its third-down and spread packages.

Fantasy managers should reassess Washington's ceiling, watching how workload splits and red-zone opportunities evolve as the new committee settles in, and which back emerges as the clearest value in the weeks ahead.

Caleb Williams must surge on a hostile road as the Bears and Lions clash with an 0-1 start on the line. Bold predictions spotlight a deep-ball surge, Roschon Johnson delivering a goal-line TD, Dayo Odeyingbo staying hot, Cairo Santos rebounding, and Ben Johnson dialing a trick play. Williams eyes air yards; Johnson stabilizes Chicago’s ground game; Santos seeks kick-clip redemption as Detroit’s revamped offense tries to rebound under John Morton and Ben Johnson.

The fantasy edge centers on Williams’ arm in a tough environment, Johnson’s backfield leverage, and special-teams swings that could tilt field position. Monitor Johnson’s workload, Santos’ kicking volume, and how Odeyingbo pressures Detroit’s protection in a pivotal divisional showdown.