Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

James Cook is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.8 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Cook is the better fantasy play this season.

James Cook is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.8 PPG and 1,912 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 James Cook 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.

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RBWashington Commanders#40

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

RBBuffalo Bills#6PPG LEADER

James Cook

PPG

16.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,621

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

291

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

James Cook

Head to Head

8.0 PPG16.8 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). James Cook: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #6 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and James Cook at 76%. That ranking gap means James Cook carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James Cook: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. James Cook (Buffalo Bills) averaged 16.8 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders, 8.0 PPG) by 8.8 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

James Cook carries a 8.8-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; James Cook posted 1621 and 12. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 7 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire James Cook 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: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. James Cook (age 26) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•James Cook outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 150 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Cook scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•James Cook caught 33 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Both players share a Week 7 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James Cook: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	James Cook
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	16.8
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	286
Rushing Yards	805	1,621
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	95.4
Rushing TDs	8	12
Receptions	9	33
Receiving Yards	68	291
Targets	13	40
Total TDs	8	14
Age	25	26
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, James Cook holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.8 points per game. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jacory Croskey-Merritt or James Cook in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Cook has the edge at 16.8 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 Cook average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. James Cook averaged 16.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.8 points per game.

Do Jacory Croskey-Merritt and James Cook share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and James Cook share a Week 7 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

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

James Cook outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 8.8 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.