Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Derrick Henry is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.0 PPG and 1,745 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (8.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Derrick Henry as the starter and Jacory Croskey-Merritt as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 7

RBWashington Commanders#40

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Head to Head

16.0 PPG8.0 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Derrick Henry is producing at 73% of elite pace and Jacory Croskey-Merritt at 36%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derrick Henry vs Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) averaged 16.0 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders, 8.0 PPG) by 8.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Derrick Henry carries a 8.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Derrick Henry ran for 1595 yards and 16 touchdowns; Jacory Croskey-Merritt posted 805 and 8. 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: Derrick Henry is off Week 7 and Jacory Croskey-Merritt Week 12. 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 Derrick Henry 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: Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 136 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jacory Croskey-Merritt is 7 years younger than Derrick Henry (25 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatHenryCroskey-Merritt

PPG (Half-PPR)16.08.0

Games Played1717

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)272136

Rushing Yards1,595805

Rush Yds/Game93.847.4

Rushing TDs168

Receptions159

Receiving Yards15068

Targets2113

Total TDs168

Age3225

Experience9 yrs-

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 12

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Derrick Henry holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.0 points per game. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Derrick Henry or Jacory Croskey-Merritt in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 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 Derrick Henry and Jacory Croskey-Merritt average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.0 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Jacory Croskey-Merritt's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or Jacory Croskey-Merritt a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 8.0 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.