Davante Adams or Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Who Should You Start?

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

Adams' scoring-role upside beats Croskey-Merritt's thinner receiving path

Start Davante Adams: the Rams' strong scoring environment gives his red-zone role more value than Croskey-Merritt's limited passing-game work. Croskey-Merritt is a legitimate start after showing goal-line involvement already produced a touchdown (ESPN 2026-09-13), but the nearly identical matchups do not close the role gap. Adams' risk is meaningful: a modest opening snap share and quiet debut (NBC Sports 2026-09-10) leave him dependent on the Rams creating designed scoring chances, making this an edge rather than a runaway.

What flips it: A clear move into passing-down work for Croskey-Merritt.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 13, 2026 · NBC Sports · Sep 10, 2026 · therams.com · Sep 17, 2026

AI editor

Davante Adams

Davante Adams

WR21LARvs NYG

Projected Points

Start· medium
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs DAL

Projected Points

Start

Davante Adams’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-165 / +129
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 48.5
-118 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+115
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 51.5
-115 / -115
Rushing Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+110
Anytime Touchdown Props →
NYG@
LARMon, Sep 21, 8:15 PM ETView the game →
WSH@
DALSun, Sep 20, 4:25 PM ETView the game →

Why Davante Adams

Start· medium

Veteran starting WR2 and red-zone weapon. Elite release package and route separation with All-Pro-caliber pedigree.

WR21 with a 22% target share in a 28.5-implied-total offense — Week 1 dud (3-26) doesn't outweigh the role or the plus game environment.

  • A rebound is plausible after one quiet opener, with the Rams publicly focused on building forward in Week 2. (therams.com 2026-09-17)
  • His scoring environment can turn a middling volume profile into a difference-making fantasy day.

The call

  • Role is intact: 22% target share as the WR-2 in a Rams offense with a 28.5 implied team total, the kind of volume-plus-scoring-chance combo you start at WR2/flex.
  • Matchup is neutral, not scary — Giants sit 16 of 32 in DvP composite, so nothing about the defense caps his ceiling.
  • Week 1 was ugly (3 of 6 for 26 yards, long of 13) and the 54% snap share is the real concern; if that number doesn't climb he's a volume-dependent WR3.
  • Rams favored by 8.5 raises late-game run-script risk, but a 28.5 implied total means plenty of red-zone looks before the clock-killing starts.

Latest on Adams

Adams caught just 3 of 6 targets for 26 yards with a long gain of only 13 yards in the Week 1 loss to San Francisco, well below his preseason hype, and will look to rebound in the Week 2 Monday night game against the Giants.

NBC Sports · Sep 10, 2026
From the Podium: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, Aaron Donald and coordinators explain moving forward to Week 2 against Giants

Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Davante Adams, defensive end Aaron Donald and coordinators discuss the team's mindset as it turns the page to Week 2 against the Giants.

therams.com · Sep 17, 2026
Davante Adams: "Some things are out of our hands"

LA Rams head coach Sean McVay and WR Davante Adams speak to the press ahead of their clash with the San Francisco 49ers, with Adams showing mixed feelings with the late arrival and connecting with fans.

VideoESPN · Sep 10, 2026
Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams looking forward to building on connection shown over second half of 2025 season and throughout training camp heading into 2026 season

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams looked in sync throughout this summer in a way that resembled their connection during the second half of last season.

therams.com · Sep 6, 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.

  • Lead-back status gives Croskey-Merritt a sturdy rushing path even if Washington trails.
  • If he misses the end zone, limited receiving work leaves little room to manufacture a ceiling.

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

MetricDavante AdamsJacory Croskey-Merritt
Projected points
Consensus rankWR21RB41
Opponent vs positionNYG · 16 of 321-game sampleDAL · 17 of 321-game sample
Receptions20 of 3212 of 32
Receiving Yards10 of 3211 of 32
Receiving TDs13 of 32—
Targets25 of 32—
Anytime TD13 of 3222 of 32
Rushing Yards—22 of 32
Rushing TDs—15 of 32
Rushing Attempts—21 of 32
Target share22%3%
Reception share18%6%
Implied total · spread28.5-8.523.5+4.5
Depth chartWR2RB1
Snap share54%49%
Start/Sit record0–1—

Recent form

Davante Adams — last 1 week

Week 1vs SF

Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 1 week

Week 1vs PHI

Signal breakdown

  • 13.7 vs 10.2 projected PPR pointsDavante Adams +
  • Rank 21 vs 41Davante Adams +
  • Opponent DvP rank 16 vs 17 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 28.5 vs 23.5 team pointsDavante Adams +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 54% vs 49% snap shareDavante Adams +

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