Isiah Pacheco vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Who Should You Start?
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 Detroit Lions (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 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
