Alvin Kamara or Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Croskey-Merritt — the consensus rank and snap share edges are too wide to ignore.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the higher consensus play (RB41 to RB48) and plays a 48% snap share to Kamara's 31%. Kamara's edge is the projection, 9.6 to 8.8. The gap is narrow.
Alvin Kamara
7.68.69.6 Projected Points
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
7.88.38.8 Projected Points
Alvin Kamara’s market
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market
Why Alvin Kamara
SitVeteran RB2 in complementary role. Elite receiving back with elusive short-area footwork, now sharing the backfield.
Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB48: LV is the 11th-toughest matchup vs RBs, 9% target share.
- LV ranks 11 of 32 against RBs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
- Vegas implies 23.0 team points as 3.5-point favorites.
- Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 31% snap share.
Latest on Kamara
In Week 2, Kamara led the Saints backfield with a 33% rush share and 18% target share, tripling Etienne's workload in his first game back from injury.
CBS Sports · Sep 23, 2026Saints running back Alvin Kamara has "no limitations," was a full participant in practice and says his knee feels good only one month after spraining his MCL in practice.
The team's all-time leader in rushing yards beat the projected recovery timeline and will play on Sunday
Katherine Terrell discusses the injury statuses of running back Alvin Kamara and defensive lineman Cam Jordan.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Jacory Croskey-Merritt
SitLead back and volume runner. Decisive one-cut rusher with tackle-breaking contact balance; limited passing-game work.
Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB41: SEA is the 10th-toughest matchup vs RBs, 3% target share.
- SEA ranks 10 of 32 against RBs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
- Vegas implies 21.5 team points as 3.5-point underdogs.
- Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 48% snap share.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Alvin Kamara | Jacory Croskey-Merritt |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 7.68.69.6 | 7.88.38.8 |
| Consensus rank | RB48 | RB41 |
| Opponent vs position | LV · 11 of 323-game sample | SEA · 10 of 323-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 14 of 32 | 5 of 32 |
| Rushing TDs | 8 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Rushing Attempts | 16 of 32 | 16 of 32 |
| Receptions | 9 of 32 | 17 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 13 of 32 | 14 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 6 of 32 | 6 of 32 |
| Target share | 9% | 3% |
| Reception share | 10% | 5% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.0-3.5 | 21.5+3.5 |
| Depth chart | RB2 | RB1 |
| Snap share | 31% | 48% |
Recent form
Alvin Kamara — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs BAL | 2.24.77.2 |
| Week 1 | vs DET | 0.00.00.0 |
Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs DAL | 4.85.35.8 |
| Week 1 | vs PHI | 11.612.112.6 |
Signal breakdown
- 9.6 vs 8.8 projected PPR pointsAlvin Kamara +
- Rank 48 vs 41Jacory Croskey-Merritt +
- Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 10 (32 = softest)Alvin Kamara +
- Implied 23.0 vs 21.5 team pointsAlvin Kamara +
- No injury designationseven
- 31% vs 48% snap shareJacory Croskey-Merritt +
Compare different players
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