Chris Godwin Jr. or Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Godwin has the routes; Croskey-Merritt has the backfield leverage

Godwin's route volume gives him the sturdier role foundation, but CBS Sports 2026-09-14 notes that four targets left him fourth on Tampa Bay despite running routes on nearly every Mayfield dropback. Croskey-Merritt's lead-back status supplies a clearer path to rushing production, though his limited passing-game role makes him more dependent on carries and scoring chances. With similar team outlooks and neither matchup separating them, this is a true balance of Godwin's involvement against Croskey-Merritt's backfield leverage.

What flips it: Godwin converting his route volume into a sustained target priority.

Sources: CBS Sports · Sep 14, 2026

AI editor

Chris Godwin Jr.

Chris Godwin Jr.

WR42TBvs CLE

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs DAL

Projected Points

Start

Chris Godwin Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-152 / +119
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 45.5
-135 / +100
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+180
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 55.5
-114 / -114
Rushing Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+105
Anytime Touchdown Props →
CLE@
TBSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
WSH@
DALSun, Sep 20, 4:25 PM ETView the game →

Why Chris Godwin Jr.

Toss-Up· medium

Starting WR with slot-to-boundary versatility. Physical route runner and YAC producer; recent seasons shortened by injury.

Elite route volume (32 of 36 Mayfield dropbacks) but just 4 targets and a 15% share — WR42 with a 10.0 projection is flex-or-bench, not locked in.

  • Route volume is starter-quality, but Tampa's target distribution makes his floor less secure than his snaps suggest.
  • Slot-to-boundary versatility gives Godwin multiple ways to win if his target priority rises.

The call

  • The role is there: 86% snap share, 32 routes on 36 dropbacks and 54.3% slot usage means he's on the field for everything Tampa does in the passing game.
  • The production hasn't followed — four targets, fourth on the team, 15% target share. That's the gap between a usable flex and a dead roster spot in PPR.
  • Matchup and script are mild positives: Cleveland grades 24 of 32 vs the position (1-game sample, low confidence) and a 24.0 implied total with a -5.5 spread keeps Tampa throwing without garbage-time desperation.
  • Tipping point: if you need a WR3 in a 12-team PPR, the route share justifies playing him; if you have another starter projected above WR42, sit him until the targets catch up to the snaps.

Latest on Godwin

Role

Godwin ran 32 routes on 36 Mayfield dropbacks (second-most on the team) and was lined up in the slot 54.3% of the time, but was targeted just four times, finishing fourth on the team.

CBS Sports · Sep 14, 2026
Performance Preview: Week One Star – Chris Godwin Jr., Alex Anzalone or Kenny Gainwell?

Gabriel Kahaian joins Brianna Dix and Scott Smith this season in their weekly competition of predicting who the Bucs' brightest star will prove to be in the upcoming game, and two of three picks are players new to the roster in 2026

buccaneers.com · Sep 11, 2026
Alex Anzalone, Chris Godwin Jr. Among Bucs' Captains for 2026

Tampa Bay players voted for their team captains on Monday morning and chose QB Baker Mayfield, T Tristan Wirfs, WR Chris Godwin Jr., NT Vita Vea, LB Alex Anzalone and S Antoine Winfield Jr.

buccaneers.com · Sep 8, 2026
Chris Godwin Jr. and Rueben Bain Jr. Chat 2026 Preparation on Green Light Podcast and Baker Mayfield Discusses Facing Browns on Rich Eisen Show | Bucs Blitz

This past week, both Chris Godwin Jr. and Rueben Bain Jr. joined the Green Light Podcast with Beau Allen and discussed their mindset entering the 2026 slate and Baker Mayfield dished on facing his former teams via the Rich Eisen Show

buccaneers.com · Sep 3, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Start

Lead back and volume runner. Decisive one-cut rusher with tackle-breaking contact balance; limited passing-game work.

Start — RB41 consensus, projects RB31 this week: 3% target share, 10.2 PPR projected vs DAL.

  • As Washington's lead back, he can outproduce his modest receiving role through steady rushing work.
  • His contact balance creates touchdown equity even when the passing game offers little support.

Latest on Croskey-Merritt

Oweh (calf) among 4 Commanders players cleared to play vs. Eagles

The Commanders have cleared Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Daron Payne to play in Sunday's season opener against the Eagles.

ESPN · Sep 11, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricChris Godwin Jr.Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Projected points
Consensus rankWR42RB41
Opponent vs positionCLE · 24 of 321-game sampleDAL · 17 of 321-game sample
Receptions24 of 3212 of 32
Receiving Yards26 of 3211 of 32
Receiving TDs31 of 32—
Targets6 of 32—
Anytime TD31 of 3222 of 32
Rushing Yards—22 of 32
Rushing TDs—15 of 32
Rushing Attempts—20 of 32
Target share15%3%
Reception share17%6%
Implied total · spread24.0-5.523.5+4.5
Depth chartWR2RB1
Snap share86%49%
Start/Sit record0–0+2 toss-ups—

Recent form

Chris Godwin Jr. — last 1 week

Week 1vs CIN

Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 1 week

Week 1vs PHI

Signal breakdown

  • 10.0 vs 10.2 projected PPR pointsJacory Croskey-Merritt +
  • Rank 42 vs 41Jacory Croskey-Merritt +
  • Opponent DvP rank 24 vs 17 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.0 vs 23.5 team pointsChris Godwin Jr. +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 86% vs 49% snap shareChris Godwin Jr. +

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