Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Kimani VidalWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kimani Vidal is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.2 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kimani Vidal is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Kimani Vidal and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 1.2-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 Kimani Vidal 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

RBLos Angeles Chargers#32PPG LEADER

Kimani Vidal

PPG

9.2

Games

Rush Yds

643

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

136

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Kimani Vidal

Head to Head

8.0 PPG9.2 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Kimani Vidal: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Kimani Vidal at 42%. That ranking gap means Kimani Vidal carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Kimani Vidal: The Full Breakdown

The gap between Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kimani Vidal is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.2 PPG in 2025, this is one of those running back decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG with the Washington Commanders across 17 games, and Kimani Vidal posted 9.2 with the Los Angeles Chargers in 12.

When two running backs are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; Kimani Vidal posted 643 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Both share a Week 7 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking running backs this deep on your bench, plan your replacement running back early.

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. Kimani Vidal (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kimani Vidal outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 20 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Kimani Vidal'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.
•Both players share a Week 7 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Kimani Vidal: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Kimani Vidal
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	9.2
Games Played	17	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	110
Rushing Yards	805	643
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	53.6
Rushing TDs	8	3
Receptions	9	16
Receiving Yards	68	136
Targets	13	22
Total TDs	8	4
Age	25	24
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Kimani Vidal at 9.2 PPG, 1.2 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 Kimani Vidal

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 Kimani Vidal

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 Kimani Vidal in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kimani Vidal has the edge at 9.2 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 Kimani Vidal average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Kimani Vidal averaged 9.2 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 1.2 points per game.

Do Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kimani Vidal share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kimani Vidal share a Week 7 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Kimani Vidal a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kimani Vidal outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 1.2 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.