Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Najee HarrisWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Najee Harris is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.8 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Najee Harris is the better fantasy play this season.

Najee Harris has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.8-PPG advantage is real (12.8 to 8.0), and Najee Harris's 7 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#99PPG LEADER

Najee Harris

PPG

12.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,010

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

225

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Najee Harris

Head to Head

8.0 PPG12.8 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Najee Harris: 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 Najee Harris at 58%. That ranking gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Najee Harris: 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. Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 12.8 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Najee Harris carries a 4.8-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; Najee Harris posted 1010 and 6. 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 Najee Harris Week 9. 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

If you can acquire Najee Harris at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Najee Harris (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Najee Harris outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 82 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Najee Harris: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Najee Harris
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	12.8
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	218
Rushing Yards	805	1,010
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	59.4
Rushing TDs	8	6
Receptions	9	30
Receiving Yards	68	225
Targets	13	0
Total TDs	8	7
Age	25	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Najee Harris holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.8 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 Najee Harris in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Najee Harris has the edge at 12.8 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 Najee Harris average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Najee Harris averaged 12.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.8 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Najee Harris's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Najee Harris a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Najee Harris outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 4.8 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.