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Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Samaje PerineWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Jacory Croskey-Merritt over Samaje Perine in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG in 2025 to Samaje Perine's 6.5, a 1.5 point per game edge. Both play running backs, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit.

The Bottom Line

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.5-PPG advantage is real (8.0 to 6.5), and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Samaje Perine is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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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

RBKansas City Chiefs

Samaje Perine

PPG

6.5

Games

Rush Yds

285

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

182

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Samaje Perine

Head to Head

8.0 PPG6.5 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 6 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Samaje Perine: Unranked RB. Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Samaje Perine at 30%. That per-game gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Samaje Perine: The Full Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Samaje Perine 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 Samaje Perine posted 6.5 PPG in 15 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 1.5-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; Samaje Perine posted 285 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has his bye in Week 7, and Samaje Perine rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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

Did You Know?

•Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Samaje Perine by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Samaje Perine's 15. 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 Samaje Perine: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Samaje Perine
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	6.5
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	98
Rushing Yards	805	285
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	19.0
Rushing TDs	8	2
Receptions	9	24
Receiving Yards	68	182
Targets	13	0
Total TDs	8	3
Age	25	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 6

Summary

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Samaje Perine by 1.5 PPG in 2025 (8.0 to 6.5). 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 Samaje Perine in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Samaje Perine's 6.5 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.

Should I draft Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Samaje Perine in 2026 fantasy football?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the earlier pick. He averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game in 2025 to Samaje Perine's 6.5, a 1.5 point per game edge over a full season. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Samaje Perine average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Samaje Perine averaged 6.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Samaje Perine's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Samaje Perine (KC) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Samaje Perine a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt outscored Samaje Perine by 1.5 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.