Fantasy football: Commanders' Austin Ekeler named top value pick

NFL training camps are inching closer, which means that fantasy football gurus are gearing up for the start of the season. Projections will be made, and player rankings will adjust as the season draws closer, and by the time fantasy drafts are taking place, we will have an idea of what to expect from each player this fall.

The best fantasy football managers understand one thing above all else: average draft position (ADP). This is the metric that Pro Football Network used to determine the top value fantasy player on every NFL team. Meaning, the player you can get later in the draft who is going to perform well for you. For the Washington Commanders, their choice is unsurprising.

Washington Commanders: Austin Ekeler, RBOn the one hand, Austin Ekeler’s RB53 ADP makes some sense. He’s 30 years old and dealt with multiple injuries last season. He’s not his team’s RB1, and there’s no real upside here for him to be a difference-maker.

On the other hand, is Ekeler not a lock to outperform his ADP? He’s nothing more than a role player at this point in his career, but receiving ability tends to age very well.

Ekeler still managed to earn a 12% target share last season, 11th in the NFL. He averaged 11.0 ppg, which, while a career low excluding his rookie year, was still suitable for an RB29 finish. Who wouldn’t sign for a top-30 running back from a guy being drafted outside the top 50?

Fantasy managers seem to have some excitement about Jacory Croskey-Merritt. But…why? He’s a seventh-round rookie — one of the last picks in the entire NFL Draft. He wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine.

Brian Robinson Jr. is locked in as the RB1, and Ekeler will reprise his supporting role as a backup. Beyond that, the Washington Commanders have Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Croskey-Merritt, who is not guaranteed a spot on the team.

Ekeler may not have a high ceiling, but if his price stays where it is, he should be on all of your rosters.

Because he battled injuries the last two years, Ekeler will be highly underestimated in 2025. People forget how dynamic he was with the Los Angeles Chargers because he had a setback. Setbacks don't mean gone forever; it just means he had to slow down and regroup, which is what he's been doing this offseason.

Ekeler will absolutely get his touches when he's on the field this fall, and while he may not produce like Saquon Barkley, he will do enough each week to earn a weekly spot on your fantasy roster.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Austin Ekeler named top fantasy value pick