Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James Cook: Who Should You Start?
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 scheduling note: Jacory Croskey-Merritt is off Week 14 and James Cook Week 12. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
