Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Jake Ferguson: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

Ferguson gets the nod on role and rank despite nearly identical projections

The nearly identical projections are less important than the role gap: Ferguson’s TE1 status and TE12 consensus rank provide a sturdier weekly foundation than Croskey-Merritt’s RB41 profile, while their matchups are effectively neutral. Croskey-Merritt’s lead-back and goal-line rushing role gives him a legitimate touchdown path, as his recent score shows (ESPN 2026-09-13). Ferguson’s recent touchdown connections with Dak support his upside (ESPN 2026-09-21; dallascowboys.com 2026-09-20), but his modest target share is the actual risk if another red-zone look does not arrive.

What flips it: A larger passing-game role for Croskey-Merritt or a Ferguson red-zone fade.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 13, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 21, 2026 · dallascowboys.com · Sep 20, 2026

AI editor

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs SEA

Projected Points

Sit
Jake Ferguson

Jake Ferguson

TE12DALvs BAL

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+180
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Jake Ferguson’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-137 / +107
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 28.5
-111 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+280
Anytime Touchdown Props →
SEA@
WSHSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
BAL@
DALSun, Sep 27, 4:25 PM ETView the game →

Why Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sit

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

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB41: 3% target share, 8.8 PPR projected vs SEA.

  • Lead-back rushing and goal-line work give him a clearer path to beating his limited receiving role.
  • The Seahawks matchup is helpful enough that one early scoring opportunity could swing his week.

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.

Why Jake Ferguson

Toss-Up· medium

TE1 and high-volume receiving tight end. Reliable chain-mover and red-zone target over the middle.

TE12 at 8.7 points with only a 10% target share — Ferguson needs a Dak red-zone look to clear replacement level vs a middling BAL matchup.

  • His TE1 role offers a more dependable weekly route base than a touchdown-dependent backup profile.
  • Recent Dak touchdowns show the red-zone connection that can turn his modest volume into a usable score.

The call

  • Consensus has him as the TE12 at 8.7 projected PPR points — literally the last startable line in a 12-team league, so he's a coin flip against any comparable streamer.
  • Role is secure (68% snap share, no injury designation) but the volume hasn't followed: a 10% target share through two games is thin for a TE you'd trust weekly.
  • Game environment helps — 24.5 implied team total and a tight 2.5-point spread means Dallas should be throwing in scoring range, and the sourced reports note Prescott has already connected with him for a score.
  • Baltimore grades 13 of 32 vs the position (32 = softest) on a two-game sample with zero confidence, so the matchup neither saves nor sinks him. A touchdown-dependent TE tips to start only if your alternative is below the TE15 range.

Latest on Ferguson

Cowboys' TD record: I caught a TD pass from Dak Prescott

Prescott passed Tony Romo in the record book, so we bring you the best moments from those who helped him make history.

ESPN · Sep 20, 2026
Starlights: Dak Prescott connects with Jake Ferguson again

The first matchup of the 2026 season between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders is littered with headlines as the bitter rivals square off to ruin the other's week.

dallascowboys.com · Sep 20, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJacory Croskey-MerrittJake Ferguson
Projected points
Consensus rankRB41TE12
Opponent vs positionSEA · 12 of 322-game sampleBAL · 13 of 322-game sample
Rushing Yards5 of 32—
Rushing TDs1 of 32—
Rushing Attempts11 of 32—
Receptions29 of 329 of 32
Receiving Yards23 of 3215 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Receiving TDs—15 of 32
Targets—11 of 32
Target share3%10%
Reception share5%13%
Implied total · spread21.5+3.524.5+2.5
Depth chartRB1TE1
Snap share43%68%
Start/Sit record—1–1+1 toss-up

Recent form

Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs DAL
Week 1vs PHI

Jake Ferguson — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs WSH
Week 1vs NYG

Signal breakdown

  • 8.8 vs 8.7 projected PPR pointsJacory Croskey-Merritt +
  • Rank 41 vs 12Jake Ferguson +
  • Opponent DvP rank 12 vs 13 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 21.5 vs 24.5 team pointsJake Ferguson +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 43% vs 68% snap shareJake Ferguson +

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