Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Josh JacobsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.6 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy play this season.

Josh Jacobs is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.6 PPG and 1,211 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 Josh Jacobs 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

RBGreen Bay Packers#8PPG LEADER

Josh Jacobs

PPG

14.6

Games

Rush Yds

929

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Josh Jacobs

Head to Head

8.0 PPG14.6 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Josh Jacobs: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Josh Jacobs at 66%. That ranking gap means Josh Jacobs carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Josh Jacobs: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers) averaged 14.6 PPG over 15 games in 2025, outscoring Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders, 8.0 PPG) by 6.6 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.6-PPG gap gives Josh Jacobs the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; Josh Jacobs posted 929 and 13. 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 7 and Josh Jacobs Week 11. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Josh Jacobs 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. Josh Jacobs (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Josh Jacobs outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 112 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Josh Jacobs's 15. That durability gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Jacobs scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Josh Jacobs caught 36 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Josh Jacobs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Josh Jacobs
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	14.6
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	219
Rushing Yards	805	929
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	61.9
Rushing TDs	8	13
Receptions	9	36
Receiving Yards	68	282
Targets	13	44
Total TDs	8	14
Age	25	28
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Josh Jacobs outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 6.6 PPG in 2025 (14.6 to 8.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Josh Jacobs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Jacobs has the edge at 14.6 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 Josh Jacobs average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Josh Jacobs averaged 14.6 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.6 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Josh Jacobs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Josh Jacobs a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Josh Jacobs outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 6.6 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.