Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Kenneth GainwellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.9 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy play this season.

Kenneth Gainwell has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.9-PPG advantage is real (10.9 to 8.0), and Kenneth Gainwell's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

RBPittsburgh Steelers#26PPG LEADER

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Kenneth Gainwell

Head to Head

8.0 PPG10.9 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Kenneth Gainwell at 50%. That ranking gap means Kenneth Gainwell carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Kenneth Gainwell: The Full Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kenneth Gainwell are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG across 17 games with the Washington Commanders, while Kenneth Gainwell posted 10.9 PPG in 17 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 2.9-PPG gap gives Kenneth Gainwell 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.

Kenneth Gainwell is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 73 targets into 486 yards, while Jacory Croskey-Merritt profiles as a more traditional rusher with 805 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Kenneth Gainwell carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jacory Croskey-Merritt sits Week 7 while Kenneth Gainwell is off Week 9. 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. Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Gainwell outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•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.
•Kenneth Gainwell caught 73 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 Kenneth Gainwell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Kenneth Gainwell
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	10.9
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	185
Rushing Yards	805	537
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	31.6
Rushing TDs	8	5
Receptions	9	73
Receiving Yards	68	486
Targets	13	85
Total TDs	8	8
Age	25	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 9

Summary

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (10.9 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 Kenneth Gainwell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Gainwell has the edge at 10.9 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 Kenneth Gainwell average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kenneth Gainwell's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Kenneth Gainwell a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 2.9 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.