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Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Woody MarksWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Woody Marks is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Woody Marks is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Woody Marks edges Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 0.3 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Woody Marks goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

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
17
Rush Yds
805
Rush TDs
8
Rec
9
Rec Yds
68
Bye
Week 7
RBHouston Texans#36PPG LEADER
Woody Marks
PPG
8.3
Games
16
Rush Yds
703
Rush TDs
2
Rec
24
Rec Yds
208
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Woody Marks

Head to Head

8.0 PPG8.3 PPG
17 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Woody Marks: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Woody Marks at 38%. That ranking gap means Woody Marks carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Woody Marks: The Full Breakdown

The gap between Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Woody Marks is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.3 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 Woody Marks posted 8.3 with the Houston Texans in 16.

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; Woody Marks posted 703 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 Woody Marks rests in Week 8. 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. Woody Marks (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

  • Woody Marks outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 5 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Woody Marks's 16. 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 Woody Marks: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJacory Croskey-MerrittWoody Marks
PPG (Half-PPR)8.08.3
Games Played1716
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)136133
Rushing Yards805703
Rush Yds/Game47.443.9
Rushing TDs82
Receptions924
Receiving Yards68208
Targets1336
Total TDs85
Age2525
Bye WeekWeek 7Week 8

Summary

Woody Marks outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 0.3 PPG in 2025 (8.3 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 Woody Marks in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Woody Marks has the edge at 8.3 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 Woody Marks average in 2025?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Woody Marks averaged 8.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 0.3 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Woody Marks's bye weeks in 2026?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Woody Marks (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Woody Marks a better fantasy running back in 2026?

Woody Marks outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 0.3 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.