Commanders' rookie phenom outshining Saquon Barkley at a $37 million discount

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Luke Hales/GettyImagesSaquon Barkley and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year and widely regarded among the league's most prolific running backs. The other was given no hope of making it as a seventh-round pick by the Washington Commanders.

But you wouldn't know it based on the first five weeks of the 2025 season.

Croskey-Merritt has rapidly become one of the league's most heartwarming rags-to-riches stories. Commanders fans were hopeful after his exceptional transition this summer. He's brought that through to a competitive setting, leading all running…