Fantasy Football Rookie Report for Week 6: ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt has arrived — and other breakouts loom
Ray Garvin continues his weekly examination of this year’s rookie class and how five players are trending going into Week 6.
Commanders: Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt
When a player goes by one name, you better deliver and Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt finally did in Week 5. Washington’s rookie back turned limited snaps into a breakout performance on Sunday, handling 70% of the team’s running back rush attempts and 69% of their total RB touches despite playing just under half the offensive snaps. Jeremy McNichols (25.5%) and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (23.6%) split the rest, but Croskey-Merritt owned the game. He had 16 total touches for 150 yards from scrimmage (111 rushing, 39 receiving) and two touchdowns.
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He forced six missed tackles, triple the combined total of McNichols and Rodriguez, and his efficiency speaks for itself. Among RBs with 30 or more carries this season, Croskey-Merritt ranks first in success rate (65.1%), first in runs of 5-plus yards (58.1%), second in 10-plus yard gains (20.9%), first in first down or touchdown rate (39.5%), and second in yards after contact per rush (4.4) all while facing eight or more defenders in the box on over half his carries (51.2%).
The Commanders’ backfield has been searching for stability, and they may have just found it. Croskey-Merritt runs with power, patience and purpose, bringing energy to an offense that finally looked balanced with Jayden Daniels back under center.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Bill Croskey-Merritt’s welcome-to-the-fantasy-lineup moment came in Week 5 and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon.
Jets: Mason Taylor the Jets No. 2
The Jets have been searching for a true second option in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson, and they may have just found him even if he lines up at tight end. Rookie Mason Taylor looked every bit the part of a breakout weapon in Week 5. He played 82.2% of snaps compared to Jeremy Ruckert’s 37%, and he ran 43 routes to Ruckert’s 13, leading the entire offense in targets with 12. His 27.3% target share was the highest on the team, even surpassing Wilson.
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Taylor turned those looks into real production. His 1.49 yards per route run ranked second on the team, ahead of Wilson, and his ability to find soft spots underneath gives the Jets’ offense the short-to-intermediate weapon it desperately needed. He’s not just filling a role — he’s defining one. Quietly, Taylor sits as the TE12 in half-PPR scoring through five weeks, and if this usage holds, he’s got top-eight potential rest of season.
New York doesn’t have a consistent WR2. It’s not Josh Reynolds, it’s not Allen Lazard, it’s not Arian Smith. The second most reliable pass catcher on this roster is Mason Taylor, and with the Jets often playing from behind, the volume isn’t going anywhere.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Mason Taylor has arrived. He’s not a stash, he’s a start. Plug him into lineups in Week 6 and don’t look back.
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Jaguars: Travis Hunter showing flashes of what’s coming
Travis Hunter’s box score doesn’t tell the full story. In Week 5 against Kansas City, the rookie wideout reminded everyone why Jacksonville took a swing on his rare talent. Hunter ran the second-most routes on the team (26) behind Brian Thomas Jr. and led all Jaguars receivers with 2.46 yards per route run and 15.3 air yards per target among players who caught a pass. He forced two missed tackles, added 6 yards after the catch over expectation and posted his best downfield performance yet with three receptions for 64 yards, including a highlight grab from Trevor Lawrence on Monday night.
The big picture here is usage. Hunter played 35 offensive snaps in Week 5, bringing his season totals to 187 snaps on offense and 120 on defense, showing Jacksonville continues to shift his workload toward the offensive side. His athleticism jumps off the screen and while his target share sat at just 12%, every opportunity looked explosive. This was the version of Hunter we were promised even if the box score hasn’t caught up yet.
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He’s still a project from a fantasy standpoint but the talent is undeniable. The flashes are turning into consistency and if Jacksonville keeps him primarily on offense, the breakout game is coming.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Stay patient because the payoff will be in the second quarter of the season.
More Week 6 Start/Sit Advice
Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst
Consensus Half-PPR Rankings
More Roster Advice: Trade Value Charts
Seahawks: Tory Horton a deeper cut worth stashing
You might not know the name yet, but Tory Horton is quietly climbing Seattle’s wide receiver hierarchy. In Week 5, the rookie outscored Cooper Kupp, catching three of four targets for 39 yards and a touchdown. He ran only 17 routes but averaged 2.29 yards per route run, one of the better marks among rookies on limited work. That kind of efficiency earns trust fast.
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Seattle’s passing game is quietly thriving. Sam Darnold ranks seventh in the NFL in passing yards and tied for seventh in passing touchdowns with nine while being sacked just six times all year. This offense is functioning clean, and Horton has carved out a role as the WR3 behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kupp. He played 46.3% of offensive snaps in Week 5 and continues to earn snaps because of his effort as a run blocker.
Horton isn’t a weekly starter yet but the film and numbers show a player ready to contribute more. If anything happens to Kupp, this becomes one of the more dangerous receiving duos in football with Smith-Njigba and Horton.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Tory Horton’s usage is trending up. Stash him now before the fantasy community catches up.
Buccaneers: Tez Johnson a deeper stash trending up
Let’s keep the deep-cut pass catchers rolling. Everyone knows Emeka Egbuka has been that dude for Tampa Bay, but another rookie starting to make a little noise is Tez Johnson. In Week 5, he finished with just 8.1 half-PPR points, but the underlying data tells a much more promising story. Johnson ranked second on the team in targets per route run rate at 21.1%, and his 3.11 yards per route run trailed only Egbuka. That’s elite efficiency on limited volume.
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Johnson played a similar snap share to veteran Sterling Shepard, while Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. both cleared 40 snaps. Shepard found the end zone, but Johnson flashed the big-play juice with 59 yards on just four receptions and forced a team-high three missed tackles. For a player who ran only 19 routes, that’s impressive production.
With Mike Evans still dealing with a hamstring injury and Godwin easing back, there’s opportunity brewing. Baker Mayfield is quietly putting together an MVP-caliber start, tied for third in touchdown passes and fourth in passing yards and Tampa’s offense is airing it out. Johnson isn’t startable yet, but he’s the kind of stash you want before the breakout happens.
Ray’s Rookie Read: Tez Johnson is trending up, stash him now before he turns efficiency into fantasy production and becomes a buzzy waiver add.
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