Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Raheim SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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 3.3-PPG advantage is real (8.0 to 4.7), and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Raheim Sanders 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#40PPG LEADER

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 7

RBCleveland Browns#99

Raheim Sanders

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Raheim Sanders

Head to Head

8.0 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Raheim Sanders: 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 Raheim Sanders at 21%. That ranking gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Raheim Sanders: The Full Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Raheim Sanders 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 Raheim Sanders posted 4.7 PPG in 4 appearances for the Cleveland Browns.

A 3.3-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; Raheim Sanders posted 92 and 1. 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 Raheim Sanders Week 10. 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 Jacory Croskey-Merritt at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Raheim Sanders 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. Raheim Sanders (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Raheim Sanders by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Raheim Sanders's 4. 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 Raheim Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Raheim Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	4.7
Games Played	17	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	19
Rushing Yards	805	92
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	23.0
Rushing TDs	8	1
Receptions	9	3
Receiving Yards	68	21
Targets	13	4
Total TDs	8	1
Age	25	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 10

Summary

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Raheim Sanders by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (8.0 to 4.7). 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 Raheim Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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 Raheim Sanders average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Raheim Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Raheim Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Raheim Sanders a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Raheim Sanders by 3.3 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.