Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Zach CharbonnetWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zach Charbonnet is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.7 PPG to Jacory Croskey-Merritt's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zach Charbonnet is the better fantasy play this season.

Zach Charbonnet has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.7-PPG advantage is real (10.7 to 8.0), and Zach Charbonnet's 12 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

RBSeattle Seahawks#28PPG LEADER

Zach Charbonnet

PPG

10.7

Games

Rush Yds

730

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

144

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Zach Charbonnet

Head to Head

8.0 PPG10.7 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Zach Charbonnet: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #28 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Zach Charbonnet at 49%. That ranking gap means Zach Charbonnet carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Zach Charbonnet: The Full Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Zach Charbonnet 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 Zach Charbonnet posted 10.7 PPG in 16 appearances for the Seattle Seahawks.

A 2.7-PPG gap gives Zach Charbonnet 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; Zach Charbonnet posted 730 and 12. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jacory Croskey-Merritt sits Week 7 while Zach Charbonnet is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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. Zach Charbonnet (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Zach Charbonnet outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Zach Charbonnet's 16. That durability gap means Jacory Croskey-Merritt contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zach Charbonnet scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Zach Charbonnet: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Zach Charbonnet
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	10.7
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	171
Rushing Yards	805	730
Rush Yds/Game	47.4	45.6
Rushing TDs	8	12
Receptions	9	20
Receiving Yards	68	144
Targets	13	24
Total TDs	8	12
Age	25	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Zach Charbonnet outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 2.7 PPG in 2025 (10.7 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 Zach Charbonnet in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Charbonnet has the edge at 10.7 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 Zach Charbonnet average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Zach Charbonnet averaged 10.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Zach Charbonnet's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Zach Charbonnet (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Zach Charbonnet a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Zach Charbonnet outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 2.7 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.