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Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James ConnerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Conner is the better fantasy play this season.

James Conner is the better play on a neutral week. 11.0 PPG with 970 yards gives a reliable baseline. Jacory Croskey-Merritt at 8.0 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft James Conner higher, but do not fade Jacory Croskey-Merritt entirely.

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

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RBWashington Commanders#40
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
PPG
8.0
Games
17
Rush Yds
805
Rush TDs
8
Rec
9
Rec Yds
68
Bye
Week 7
RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER
James Conner
PPG
11.0
Games
14
Rush Yds
752
Rush TDs
5
Rec
28
Rec Yds
218
Bye
Week 11

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
James Conner

Head to Head

8.0 PPG11.0 PPG
17 GP14 GP
Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

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

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James Conner: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Jacory Croskey-Merritt and James Conner for your lineup, you are not alone. Jacory Croskey-Merritt finished the 2025 season at 8.0 PPG for the Washington Commanders (17 games), and James Conner averaged 11.0 for the Arizona Cardinals (14 games).

That 3.0-point weekly advantage for James Conner 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. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; James Conner posted 752 and 5. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has his bye in Week 7, and James Conner rests in Week 11. 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

James Conner is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

  • James Conner outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. 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

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James Conner: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJacory Croskey-MerrittJames Conner
PPG (Half-PPR)8.011.0
Games Played1714
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)136154
Rushing Yards805752
Rush Yds/Game47.453.7
Rushing TDs85
Receptions928
Receiving Yards68218
Targets130
Total TDs86
Age25-
Bye WeekWeek 7Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor James Conner at 11.0 PPG, 3.0 points per game above Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0. 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 Jacory Croskey-Merritt or James Conner in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 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 Jacory Croskey-Merritt and James Conner average in 2025?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and James Conner's bye weeks in 2026?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or James Conner a better fantasy running back in 2026?

James Conner outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 3.0 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.