Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cam Akers vs Jacory Croskey-MerrittWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Cam Akers's 6.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better fantasy play this season.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better play on a neutral week. 8.0 PPG with 873 yards gives a reliable baseline. Cam Akers at 6.0 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jacory Croskey-Merritt higher, but do not fade Cam Akers entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBMinnesota Vikings#99

Cam Akers

PPG

6.0

Games

Rush Yds

318

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 6

RBWashington Commanders#40PPG LEADER

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Cam Akers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Head to Head

6.0 PPG8.0 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Cam Akers: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Cam Akers is producing at 27% of elite pace and Jacory Croskey-Merritt at 36%. That ranking gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cam Akers vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Cam Akers and Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Minnesota Vikings running back put up 6.0 PPG in 2025 over 13 games; Jacory Croskey-Merritt of the Washington Commanders averaged 8.0 in 17. A 2.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.0 points favors Jacory Croskey-Merritt, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Cam Akers ran for 318 yards and 2 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.

One scheduling note: Cam Akers is off Week 6 and Jacory Croskey-Merritt Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

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: Cam Akers (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Cam Akers by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Cam Akers's 13. 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

Cam Akers vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cam Akers	Jacory Croskey-Merritt
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.0	8.0
Games Played	13	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	78	136
Rushing Yards	318	805
Rush Yds/Game	24.5	47.4
Rushing TDs	2	8
Receptions	14	9
Receiving Yards	98	68
Targets	0	13
Total TDs	2	8
Age	-	25
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 7

Summary

8.0 PPG for Jacory Croskey-Merritt versus 6.0 for Cam Akers in 2025. The baseline favors Jacory Croskey-Merritt, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cam Akers or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Cam Akers's 6.0 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.

How many fantasy points did Cam Akers and Jacory Croskey-Merritt average in 2025?▾

Cam Akers averaged 6.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

When are Cam Akers and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cam Akers (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cam Akers or Jacory Croskey-Merritt a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Cam Akers by 2.0 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.