Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Javonte Williams: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Williams' workhorse role outweighs Washington's friendlier scoring setup

Start Williams: his workhorse role brings both rushing volume and receiving routes, while Croskey-Merritt depends far more on carries. Washington's better scoring outlook and softer matchup are real counterweights, but Croskey-Merritt's limited passing-game role leaves little cushion if the game moves away from the run. Dallas' run game is the risk; the Cowboys have been urged to get back on track (dallascowboys.com 2026-09-28).

What flips it: A continued Dallas run-game stall (dallascowboys.com 2026-09-28).

Sources: dallascowboys.com · Sep 28, 2026

AI editor

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs IND

Projected Points

Start
Javonte Williams

Javonte Williams

RB15DALvs HOU

Projected Points

Start

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 62.5
-114 / -110
Rushing Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+105
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Javonte Williams’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 60.5
-110 / -114
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 2.5
-131 / +103
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 13.5
-115 / -109
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
-130
Anytime Touchdown Props →
IND@
WSHSun, Oct 4, 9:30 AM ETView the game →
DAL@
HOUSun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

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 RB34 this week: IND is the 9th-softest matchup vs RBs, 26.0 implied team total.

  • Washington's scoring outlook gives Croskey-Merritt's decisive, contact-balancing style a credible path to a touchdown.
  • The softer matchup helps his rushing case, though his limited receiving work makes a negative script costly.

Why Javonte Williams

Start

RB1 and workhorse lead back. Contact-balance runner with pass-protection reliability and steady receiving usage.

Start — RB15 consensus, projects RB17 this week: 12% target share, 14.6 PPR projected vs HOU.

  • Williams' steady receiving usage can preserve his involvement if Houston pushes Dallas into passing situations.
  • Pass-protection reliability supports his workhorse role even when the run game isn't clicking.

Latest on Williams

Javonte Williams, Cowboys find success in run game, now need to 'get back on track'

Javonte Williams and the Cowboys offense were able to finally find a spark in the run game. Still, he knows they need to do more in order to "get back on track"

dallascowboys.com · Sep 27, 2026
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

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJacory Croskey-MerrittJavonte Williams
Projected points
Consensus rankRB41RB15
Opponent vs positionIND · 24 of 323-game sampleHOU · 5 of 323-game sample
Rushing Yards27 of 329 of 32
Rushing TDs29 of 321 of 32
Rushing Attempts21 of 3213 of 32
Receptions15 of 323 of 32
Receiving Yards29 of 322 of 32
Anytime TD25 of 321 of 32
Target share3%12%
Reception share5%14%
Implied total · spread26.0-1.522.5+2.5
Depth chartRB1RB1
Snap share48%76%
Start/Sit record—1–1

Recent form

Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs SEA
Week 2vs DAL
Week 1vs PHI

Javonte Williams — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs BAL
Week 2vs WSH
Week 1vs NYG

Signal breakdown

  • 9.2 vs 14.6 projected PPR pointsJavonte Williams +
  • Rank 41 vs 15Javonte Williams +
  • Opponent DvP rank 24 vs 5 (32 = softest)Jacory Croskey-Merritt +
  • Implied 26.0 vs 22.5 team pointsJacory Croskey-Merritt +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 48% vs 76% snap shareJavonte Williams +

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