Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James Cook

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

James Cook is the better fantasy play this season.

James Cook is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.8 PPG and 1,912 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 James Cook 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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RBWashington Commanders#40

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

805

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

RBBuffalo Bills#6PPG LEADER

James Cook

PPG

16.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,621

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

291

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

James Cook

Head to Head

8.0 PPG16.8 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). James Cook: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #6 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and James Cook at 76%. That ranking gap means James Cook carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs James Cook: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. James Cook (Buffalo Bills) averaged 16.8 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders, 8.0 PPG) by 8.8 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

James Cook carries a 8.8-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. Jacory Croskey-Merritt ran for 805 yards and 8 touchdowns; James Cook posted 1621 and 12. 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: Jacory Croskey-Merritt is off Week 12 and James Cook Week 7. 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 James Cook 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: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. James Cook (age 26) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•James Cook outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 150 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Cook scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•James Cook caught 33 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatCroskey-MerrittCook

PPG (Half-PPR)8.016.8

Games Played1717

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)136286

Rushing Yards8051,621

Rush Yds/Game47.495.4

Rushing TDs812

Receptions933

Receiving Yards68291

Targets1340

Total TDs814

Age2526

Experience-3 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, James Cook holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.8 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 Jacory Croskey-Merritt or James Cook in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Cook has the edge at 16.8 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 James Cook average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. James Cook averaged 16.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.8 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and James Cook's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or James Cook a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

James Cook outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 8.8 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.