Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Jerome FordWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jerome Ford is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.4 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jerome Ford is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Jerome Ford and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.4-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jerome Ford in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBWashington Commanders#40

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

RBCleveland Browns#99PPG LEADER

Jerome Ford

PPG

8.4

Games

Rush Yds

582

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

215

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jerome Ford

Head to Head

8.0 PPG8.4 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Jerome Ford: 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 Jerome Ford at 38%. That ranking gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Jerome Ford: The Full Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (8.0 PPG) and Jerome Ford (8.4 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two running backs are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games for the Washington Commanders; Jerome Ford suited up 15 times for the Cleveland Browns.

A 0.4-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; Jerome Ford posted 582 and 3. 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: Jacory Croskey-Merritt sits Week 7 while Jerome Ford is off Week 10. 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: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Jerome Ford (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jerome Ford outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 7 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jerome Ford's 15. 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 Jerome Ford: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Jerome Ford
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	8.4
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	126
Rushing Yards	805	582
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	38.8
Rushing TDs	8	3
Receptions	9	28
Receiving Yards	68	215
Targets	13	0
Total TDs	8	4
Age	25	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 10

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jerome Ford at 8.4 PPG, 0.4 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Jerome Ford

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Jerome Ford

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Jerome Ford in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jerome Ford has the edge at 8.4 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 Jerome Ford average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Jerome Ford averaged 8.4 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 0.4 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jerome Ford's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Jerome Ford (CLE) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Jerome Ford a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jerome Ford outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 0.4 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.