Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

Kenneth Walker III is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.4 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kenneth Walker III is the better fantasy play this season.

Kenneth Walker III has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.4-PPG advantage is real (10.4 to 8.0), and Kenneth Walker III's 5 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

RBSeattle Seahawks#29PPG LEADER

Kenneth Walker III

PPG

10.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,027

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Kenneth Walker III

Head to Head

8.0 PPG10.4 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Kenneth Walker III: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #29 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Kenneth Walker III at 47%. That ranking gap means Kenneth Walker III carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Kenneth Walker III: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.0 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Kenneth Walker III (Seattle Seahawks) came in at 10.4 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Kenneth Walker III carries a 2.4-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; Kenneth Walker III posted 1027 and 5. 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 Kenneth Walker III 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

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 Walker III (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Walker III outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 41 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 Walker III caught 31 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 Walker III: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Kenneth Walker III
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	10.4
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	177
Rushing Yards	805	1,027
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	60.4
Rushing TDs	8	5
Receptions	9	31
Receiving Yards	68	282
Targets	13	36
Total TDs	8	5
Age	25	25
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Kenneth Walker III holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 10.4 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 Kenneth Walker III in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Walker III has the edge at 10.4 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 Kenneth Walker III average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Kenneth Walker III averaged 10.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.4 points per game.

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

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Kenneth Walker III (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Kenneth Walker III outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 2.4 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.