Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Isiah Pacheco 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 Isiah Pacheco'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. Isiah Pacheco 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 Isiah Pacheco entirely.

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

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RBKansas City Chiefs#54

Isiah Pacheco

PPG

6.0

Games

Rush Yds

462

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

101

Bye

Week 5

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

Isiah Pacheco

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Head to Head

6.0 PPG8.0 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Isiah Pacheco: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #54 at the position). Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Isiah Pacheco 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.

Isiah Pacheco vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Isiah Pacheco and Jacory Croskey-Merritt for your lineup, you are not alone. Isiah Pacheco finished the 2025 season at 6.0 PPG for the Kansas City Chiefs (13 games), and Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 for the Washington Commanders (17 games).

That 2.0-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. Isiah Pacheco ran for 462 yards and 1 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: Isiah Pacheco sits Week 5 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: Isiah Pacheco (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 Isiah Pacheco by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Isiah Pacheco'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

Isiah Pacheco vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Isiah Pacheco	Jacory Croskey-Merritt
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.0	8.0
Games Played	13	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	78	136
Rushing Yards	462	805
Rush Yds/Game	35.5	47.4
Rushing TDs	1	8
Receptions	19	9
Receiving Yards	101	68
Targets	26	13
Total TDs	2	8
Age	27	25
Experience	3 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jacory Croskey-Merritt at 8.0 PPG, 2.0 points per game above Isiah Pacheco's 6.0. 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 Isiah Pacheco or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Isiah Pacheco'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 Isiah Pacheco and Jacory Croskey-Merritt average in 2025?▾

Isiah Pacheco 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 Isiah Pacheco and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Isiah Pacheco (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Isiah Pacheco or Jacory Croskey-Merritt a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Isiah Pacheco 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.