Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Omarion Hampton: Who Should You Start?
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. Omarion Hampton (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 13.3 PPG over 9 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Omarion Hampton carries a 5.3-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; Omarion Hampton posted 545 and 4. 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 14 while Omarion Hampton is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
