Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Rico DowdleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy play this season.

Rico Dowdle has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.6-PPG advantage is real (11.6 to 8.0), and Rico Dowdle'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

RBCarolina Panthers#21PPG LEADER

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Rico Dowdle

Head to Head

8.0 PPG11.6 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Rico Dowdle: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Rico Dowdle at 53%. That ranking gap means Rico Dowdle carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Rico Dowdle: The Full Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rico Dowdle 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 Rico Dowdle posted 11.6 PPG in 17 appearances for the Carolina Panthers.

A 3.6-PPG gap gives Rico Dowdle 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; Rico Dowdle posted 1076 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 Rico Dowdle Week 5. 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 Rico Dowdle 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. Rico Dowdle (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Rico Dowdle outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 61 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.
•Rico Dowdle caught 39 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 Rico Dowdle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Rico Dowdle
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	11.6
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	197
Rushing Yards	805	1,076
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	63.3
Rushing TDs	8	6
Receptions	9	39
Receiving Yards	68	297
Targets	13	50
Total TDs	8	7
Age	25	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 5

Summary

Rico Dowdle outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 3.6 PPG in 2025 (11.6 to 8.0). 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 Rico Dowdle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 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 Rico Dowdle average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rico Dowdle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Rico Dowdle (CAR) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Rico Dowdle a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 3.6 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.