Download DraftCall for Free

Head to Head

Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

Bam Knight or Jacory Croskey-MerrittWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

It is nearly a coin flip, but lean Bam Knight over Jacory Croskey-Merritt in 2026.

Bam Knight (8.2 PPG) and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (8.0) finished 2025 separated by under a point per game. Knight posted that edge in only 10 games, so the per-game ceiling is real but watch his availability. Both land in Tier 6 at the position, so this is closer than the raw gap suggests.

The Bottom Line

Statistically, Bam Knight and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.2-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Download the App

Track Bam Knight and Jacory Croskey-Merritt live in the DraftCall app.

App Store Google Play

RBArizona Cardinals#37PPG LEADER

Bam Knight

PPG

8.2

Games

Rush Yds

269

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

160

Bye

Week 14

RBWashington Commanders#40

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Bam Knight

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Head to Head

8.2 PPG8.0 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Bam Knight: Tier 6 (Deep League) RB (ranked #37 at the position). Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 6 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bam Knight is producing at 37% of elite pace and Jacory Croskey-Merritt at 36%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Bam Knight vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: The Full Breakdown

Bam Knight (8.2 PPG) and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (8.0 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two running backs are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Bam Knight played 10 games for the Arizona Cardinals; Jacory Croskey-Merritt suited up 17 times for the Washington Commanders.

A 0.2-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Bam Knight ran for 269 yards and 4 touchdowns; Jacory Croskey-Merritt posted 805 and 8. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Bam Knight sits Week 14 while Jacory Croskey-Merritt is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Bam Knight (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bam Knight outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 3 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Bam Knight's 10. That durability gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bam Knight vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bam Knight	Jacory Croskey-Merritt
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.2	8.0
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	82	136
Rushing Yards	269	805
Rush Yds/Game	26.9	47.4
Rushing TDs	4	8
Receptions	22	9
Receiving Yards	160	68
Targets	31	13
Total TDs	5	8
Age	25	25
Experience	3 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

8.2 PPG for Bam Knight versus 8.0 for Jacory Croskey-Merritt in 2025. The baseline favors Bam Knight, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Bam Knight vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

App Store Google Play What you get →

Free on the App Store and Google Play. $2.99/month premium.

Inside the app

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Bam Knight or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bam Knight has the edge at 8.2 PPG compared to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

Should I draft Bam Knight or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in 2026 fantasy football?▾

Bam Knight and Jacory Croskey-Merritt come off the board in the same range, so take whichever fits your roster build. Bam Knight averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game in 2025 to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0, a gap of under a point. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Bam Knight and Jacory Croskey-Merritt average in 2025?▾

Bam Knight averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.2 points per game.

When are Bam Knight and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bam Knight (ARI) has a bye in Week 14, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bam Knight or Jacory Croskey-Merritt a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bam Knight outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 0.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.