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Dylan Sampson 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 Dylan Sampson's 4.7 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. Dylan Sampson at 4.7 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 Dylan Sampson entirely.

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

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RBCleveland Browns#99
Dylan Sampson
PPG
4.7
Games
15
Rush Yds
175
Rec
33
Rec Yds
271
Bye
Week 10
RBWashington Commanders#40PPG LEADER
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
PPG
8.0
Games
17
Rush Yds
805
Rush TDs
8
Rec
9
Rec Yds
68
Bye
Week 7

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Dylan Sampson
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Head to Head

4.7 PPG8.0 PPG
15 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Dylan Sampson: 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, Dylan Sampson is producing at 21% 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.

Dylan Sampson vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Dylan Sampson and Jacory Croskey-Merritt for your lineup, you are not alone. Dylan Sampson finished the 2025 season at 4.7 PPG for the Cleveland Browns (15 games), and Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 for the Washington Commanders (17 games).

That 3.3-point weekly advantage for Jacory Croskey-Merritt is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Dylan Sampson ran for 175 yards and undefined 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.

Dylan Sampson 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

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Dylan Sampson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Dylan Sampson (age 21) 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?

  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Dylan Sampson's 15. 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.
  • Dylan Sampson caught 33 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
  • Dylan Sampson is 4 years younger than Jacory Croskey-Merritt (21 vs 25), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dylan Sampson vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDylan SampsonJacory Croskey-Merritt
PPG (Half-PPR)4.78.0
Games Played1517
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)71136
Rushing Yards175805
Rush Yds/Game11.747.4
Rushing TDs08
Receptions339
Receiving Yards27168
Targets4013
Total TDs28
Age2125
Experience1 yrs-
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jacory Croskey-Merritt at 8.0 PPG, 3.3 points per game above Dylan Sampson's 4.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dylan Sampson or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 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 Dylan Sampson and Jacory Croskey-Merritt average in 2025?

Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Dylan Sampson and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's bye weeks in 2026?

Dylan Sampson (CLE) 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 Dylan Sampson or Jacory Croskey-Merritt a better fantasy running back in 2026?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Dylan Sampson by 3.3 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.