Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Jonathan Taylor

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Jonathan Taylor is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.0 PPG and 1,963 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 Jonathan Taylor 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

RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jonathan Taylor

Head to Head

8.0 PPG20.0 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #40 at the position). Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Jonathan Taylor at 91%. That ranking gap means Jonathan Taylor carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Jonathan Taylor: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Jonathan Taylor put up 20.0 fantasy points per game for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, while Jacory Croskey-Merritt managed 8.0 across 17 games with the Washington Commanders. A 12.0-point weekly edge is substantial at the running back position.

A 12.0-PPG gap gives Jonathan Taylor 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.

Jonathan Taylor is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 46 targets into 378 yards, while Jacory Croskey-Merritt profiles as a more traditional rusher with 805 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jonathan Taylor carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jacory Croskey-Merritt sits Week 12 while Jonathan Taylor 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

If you can acquire Jonathan Taylor 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. Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by a projected 204 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jonathan Taylor caught 46 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatCroskey-MerrittTaylor

PPG (Half-PPR)8.020.0

Games Played1717

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)136340

Rushing Yards8051,585

Rush Yds/Game47.493.2

Rushing TDs818

Receptions946

Receiving Yards68378

Targets1355

Total TDs820

Age2527

Experience-5 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 11

Summary

Jonathan Taylor outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 12.0 PPG in 2025 (20.0 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 Jonathan Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 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 Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jonathan Taylor average in 2025?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 12.0 points per game.

When are Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jonathan Taylor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) has a bye in Week 12, and Jonathan Taylor (IND) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Jonathan Taylor a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor outscored Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 12.0 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.