Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

D'Andre Swift vs Jacory Croskey-MerrittWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

D'Andre Swift is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.2 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

D'Andre Swift is the better fantasy play this season.

D'Andre Swift is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 13.2 PPG and 1,386 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (8.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster D'Andre Swift as the starter and Jacory Croskey-Merritt as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track D'Andre Swift and Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBChicago Bears#16PPG LEADER

D'Andre Swift

PPG

13.2

Games

Rush Yds

1,087

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

299

Bye

Week 10

RBWashington Commanders#40

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

D'Andre Swift

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Head to Head

13.2 PPG8.0 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

D'Andre Swift: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #16 at the position). Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, D'Andre Swift is producing at 60% of elite pace and Jacory Croskey-Merritt at 36%. That ranking gap means D'Andre Swift carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

D'Andre Swift vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: The Full Breakdown

D'Andre Swift and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. D'Andre Swift averaged 13.2 PPG across 16 games with the Chicago Bears, while Jacory Croskey-Merritt posted 8.0 PPG in 17 appearances for the Washington Commanders.

A 5.2-PPG gap gives D'Andre Swift the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. D'Andre Swift ran for 1087 yards and 9 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.

D'Andre Swift has his bye in Week 10, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire D'Andre Swift at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: D'Andre Swift (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?

•D'Andre Swift outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to D'Andre Swift's 16. That durability gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•D'Andre Swift scored 10 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•D'Andre Swift caught 34 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

D'Andre Swift vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	D'Andre Swift	Jacory Croskey-Merritt
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.2	8.0
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	211	136
Rushing Yards	1,087	805
Rush Yds/Game	67.9	47.4
Rushing TDs	9	8
Receptions	34	9
Receiving Yards	299	68
Targets	48	13
Total TDs	10	8
Age	27	25
Experience	5 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

D'Andre Swift outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 5.2 PPG in 2025 (13.2 to 8.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on D'Andre Swift 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.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on D'Andre Swift vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start D'Andre Swift or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, D'Andre Swift has the edge at 13.2 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.

How many fantasy points did D'Andre Swift and Jacory Croskey-Merritt average in 2025?▾

D'Andre Swift averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

When are D'Andre Swift and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's bye weeks in 2026?▾

D'Andre Swift (CHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is D'Andre Swift or Jacory Croskey-Merritt a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

D'Andre Swift outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 5.2 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.