Washington Commanders Running Back Depth Chart — 2026

A handcuff is the backup who inherits the starter's workload if the starter gets hurt — so the Commanders handcuff is whoever sits directly behind Rachaad White on the depth chart above. Rostering him is how you protect a starting back you have already spent a pick on. More on what a handcuff is.

Rachaad White arrives from Tampa Bay as the pass-game back: 58.7% of that team's pass snaps last season and 45 targets in 17 games. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the runner, +0.79 yards over expected per carry on 175 carries with only 13 targets.

There is no availability record to read on him — one professional season — so the honest answer is that history offers nothing here.

What is measurable is what he does. He ran +0.79 yards over expected per carry, 12th of 49 qualifying backs, on 175 carries at 39.0% of the snaps.

White, listed as questionable, would be the beneficiary, though his record comes from Tampa Bay. He has been durable — 66 of 68 team games across 4 seasons — though his own running has been the weak part of his game at -0.22 per carry, 43rd of 49. Jerome Ford, now on IR, carried a 24.2% snap share in Cleveland. On Washington's depth chart, Austin Ekeler now sits at the 3 spot and Jeremy McNichols, also now on IR, sits at the 5 spot; McNichols carried a 30.7% snap share in Washington.

The Washington chart has changed. Rachaad White took 51.1% of Tampa Bay's snaps last season, 19th among running backs. He is now listed Out and sixth on Washington's running back depth chart, down from second.

Croskey-Merritt took 38.9% and did nearly all the effective running. The reporting below describes a deliberate three-way design, with Kaytron Allen drafted for short-yardage work. Austin Ekeler is now second on the chart, up from fifth.

Yes, emphatically, and it is the second name on the chart.

Rachaad White was on the field for 378 pass snaps in Tampa Bay, 58.7% of that team's — 12th among running backs — against 51.1% of snaps overall, a tilt of +7.6. He drew 45 targets, 2.65 a game, catching 40 for 218 yards.

Croskey-Merritt drew 13 targets in 17 games, under the 25 needed for a receiving rate to mean anything, on 173 pass snaps.

The reporting below says Washington specifically missed what White adds out of the backfield. The snap counts say the same thing.

What the beat is reporting, last refreshed 2026-10-03. Nothing here is measured — it is reporting, attributed and dated.

Washington believes Croskey-Merritt is the right player to lead the backfield, with his vision and burst (Commanders.com, 2026-07-09). Croskey-Merritt is listed with no injury designation.

The Commanders missed what Rachaad White adds in the passing game out of the backfield last year; he averages 7.1 yards per catch with an 89.1 percent catch rate (Commanders.com, 2026-07-09). White is listed as Out and sits at RB6 on the depth chart, down from RB2. Austin Ekeler is at RB2, up from RB5.

Sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen was drafted for short-yardage work, and his roster spot was once seen as not guaranteed (Commanders.com, 2026-07-09). Allen has since moved down the depth chart to RB4, while Jeremy McNichols has moved up to RB3.