Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Khalil HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better fantasy play this season.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better play on a neutral week. 8.0 PPG with 873 yards gives a reliable baseline. Khalil Herbert at 5.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jacory Croskey-Merritt higher, but do not fade Khalil Herbert entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBWashington Commanders#40PPG LEADER

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

RBCincinnati Bengals#99

Khalil Herbert

PPG

5.8

Games

Rush Yds

248

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Khalil Herbert

Head to Head

8.0 PPG5.8 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Khalil Herbert: 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 Khalil Herbert at 26%. That ranking gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Khalil Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Khalil Herbert is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Washington Commanders running back put up 8.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Khalil Herbert of the Cincinnati Bengals averaged 5.8 in 12. A 2.2-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.2 points favors Jacory Croskey-Merritt, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; Khalil Herbert posted 248 and 2. 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 Khalil Herbert is off Week 12. 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. Khalil Herbert (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Khalil Herbert's 12. 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 Khalil Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Khalil Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	5.8
Games Played	17	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	70
Rushing Yards	805	248
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	20.7
Rushing TDs	8	2
Receptions	9	12
Receiving Yards	68	85
Targets	13	0
Total TDs	8	2
Age	25	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 12

Summary

8.0 PPG for Jacory Croskey-Merritt versus 5.8 for Khalil Herbert in 2025. The baseline favors Jacory Croskey-Merritt, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Khalil Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 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 Khalil Herbert average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Khalil Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Khalil Herbert (CIN) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Khalil Herbert a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Khalil Herbert by 2.2 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.