Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Roschon JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Roschon Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.1 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Roschon Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Roschon Johnson and Jacory Croskey-Merritt are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.1-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

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

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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

RBChicago Bears#99PPG LEADER

Roschon Johnson

PPG

8.1

Games

Rush Yds

445

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

168

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Roschon Johnson

Head to Head

8.0 PPG8.1 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Roschon Johnson: 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 Roschon Johnson at 37%. That ranking gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Roschon Johnson: The Full Breakdown

The gap between Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Roschon Johnson is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.1 PPG in 2025, this is one of those running back decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG with the Washington Commanders across 17 games, and Roschon Johnson posted 8.1 with the Chicago Bears in 14.

When two running backs are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; Roschon Johnson posted 445 and 4. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Both share a Week 7 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking running backs this deep on your bench, plan your replacement running back early.

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

Did You Know?

•Roschon Johnson outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 2 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Roschon Johnson's 14. 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.
•Both players share a Week 7 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Roschon Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Roschon Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	8.1
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	113
Rushing Yards	805	445
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	31.8
Rushing TDs	8	4
Receptions	9	22
Receiving Yards	68	168
Targets	13	0
Total TDs	8	5
Age	25	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Roschon Johnson at 8.1 PPG, 0.1 points per game above Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Roschon Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Roschon Johnson has the edge at 8.1 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 Roschon Johnson average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Roschon Johnson averaged 8.1 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 0.1 points per game.

Do Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Roschon Johnson share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Roschon Johnson share a Week 7 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Roschon Johnson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Roschon Johnson outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 0.1 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.