Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Michael CarterWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Michael Carter's 6.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

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

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (8.0 to 6.3), and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Carter is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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

RBArizona Cardinals#51

Michael Carter

PPG

6.3

Games

Rush Yds

333

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

267

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Michael Carter

Head to Head

8.0 PPG6.3 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Michael Carter: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #51 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Michael Carter at 29%. That ranking gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Michael Carter: The Full Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Michael Carter 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 Michael Carter posted 6.3 PPG in 13 appearances for the Arizona Cardinals.

A 1.7-PPG gap gives Jacory Croskey-Merritt 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; Michael Carter posted 333 and 1. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has his bye in Week 7, and Michael Carter rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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. Michael Carter (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Michael Carter by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Michael Carter's 13. 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.
•Michael Carter caught 33 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 Michael Carter: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Michael Carter
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	6.3
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	82
Rushing Yards	805	333
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	25.6
Rushing TDs	8	1
Receptions	9	33
Receiving Yards	68	267
Targets	13	45
Total TDs	8	1
Age	25	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 14

Summary

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Michael Carter by 1.7 PPG in 2025 (8.0 to 6.3). 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 Michael Carter in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Michael Carter's 6.3 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 Michael Carter average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Michael Carter averaged 6.3 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Michael Carter's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Michael Carter (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Michael Carter a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Michael Carter by 1.7 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.