Start Deebo Samuel Sr. over Jacory Croskey-Merritt — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Samuel’s steadier role edges a fragile RB workload

Start Deebo Samuel Sr. because his starting hybrid role and manufactured touches give him more paths to a usable PPR outing (ESPN 2026-08-25). This is a narrow call, not a confident flex play: Jacory Croskey-Merritt has lead-back appeal, but limited passing-game work and a questionable tag make his workload less bankable. Samuel’s risk is that a WR-2 role can still produce a thin result if the designed touches fail to materialize.

What flips it: Croskey-Merritt is cleared and gains a confirmed passing-game role.

Sources: ESPN · Aug 25, 2026

AI editor

In standard and half-PPR scoring this is a coin flip.

Deebo Samuel Sr.

WR55SFvs LAR

5.87.38.9 Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs PHI

7.37.88.3 Projected Points

Sit

Why Deebo Samuel Sr.

Toss-Up· medium

Starting WR and hybrid weapon. Yards-after-catch bully used on jet sweeps and manufactured touches.

24% target share and 72% snaps keep him PPR-relevant, but an 8.9-point projection and WR55 rank make him a flex-only dart.

Manufactured touches give Samuel paths to production beyond conventional downfield targets.
A slightly stronger team scoring outlook supports his broader offensive role.

The call

Usage is the case for him: a 24% target share over 16 games with 72% snaps is genuine WR1-level volume for this offense, and in PPR that volume creates a real catch floor even on short throws.
The projection disagrees — 8.9 points and a WR55 consensus rank put him behind most starting-caliber options in a 12-team league, so he's a flex play rather than a lineup lock.
Matchup offers no edge: the Rams grade 21 of 32 in the DvP composite, and that number carries a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so treat it as neutral rather than a reason to start.
A 22.8 implied total with a 3.0 spread points to a competitive, moderate-scoring script. If you need ceiling, look elsewhere; if you need floor at flex, the target share plays.
No injury designation, so the role is intact — the question is purely whether your bench has a higher-upside option.

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Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sit

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

Sit — RB41 consensus, projects RB42 this week: 3% target share in 2025, Questionable on the latest report.

Lead-back status gives Croskey-Merritt touchdown equity if Washington controls the game.
His decisive rushing style could beat the projection if early carries create sustained volume.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Deebo Samuel Sr.	Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Projected points	5.87.38.9	7.37.88.3
Consensus rank	WR55	RB41
Opponent vs position	LAR · 21 of 320-game sample	PHI · 19 of 320-game sample
Receptions	23 of 32	9 of 32
Receiving Yards	23 of 32	26 of 32
Receiving TDs	14 of 32	—
Targets	27 of 32	—
Anytime TD	18 of 32	20 of 32
Rushing Yards	—	17 of 32
Rushing TDs	—	19 of 32
Rushing Attempts	—	23 of 32
Target share	24%(2025)	3%(2025)
Reception share	27%(2025)	3%(2025)
Implied total · spread	22.8+3.0	20.5+5.5
Depth chart	WR2	RB1
Snap share	72%(2025)	40%(2025)
Injury designation	—	Q
Start/Sit record	0–0+1 toss-up	—