Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Jonah Coleman: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Croskey-Merritt wins the comparison, but stays a bench option
Keep Croskey-Merritt ahead, but leave both on the bench: his lead-back role gives him a sturdier path to carries, while limited receiving work caps his upside. Denver’s late shift toward Coleman makes the gap less secure than it first appears, but it is fresh evidence of a role change—not proof of a dependable weekly workload (denverbroncos.com 2026-09-22). The matchup reads are too similar and uncertain to decide this; Croskey-Merritt’s more established usage does.
What flips it: If Denver confirms Coleman’s second-half promotion as his full-game role this week.
Sources: ESPN · Sep 13, 2026 · denverbroncos.com · Sep 22, 2026
AI editor
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
7.88.38.8 Projected Points
Jonah Coleman
1.21.41.7 Projected Points
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market
Jonah Coleman’s market
Why Jacory Croskey-Merritt
SitLead 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.
- His goal-line finish shows a direct scoring route even with little passing-game involvement (ESPN 2026-09-13).
- The lead-back profile is a steadier bet for carries than a role that changed midgame.
Latest on Croskey-Merritt
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.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Jonah Coleman
SitRookie RB3 and depth back. Compact, physical runner with no NFL regular-season sample yet.
Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB50: LAR is the 11th-toughest matchup vs RBs, 5% target share.
- Denver’s second-half promotion creates a plausible path to a much bigger workload (denverbroncos.com 2026-09-22).
- A physical runner could make that expanded role count if Denver keeps feeding him.
Latest on Coleman
Jonah Coleman became Denver's primary ball carrier in the second half.
RB Jonah Coleman nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week following Week 2 win over Jaguarsdenverbroncos.com, ESPN, Yahoo Sports (via SI/OnSI) · Sep 22, 2026With injuries to J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, the Denver Broncos are looking at the week ahead before determining which running back will be ready for Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“Kind of felt like it was really a tale of two halves,” Head Coach Sean Payton said after the Broncos’ 20-13 win over the Jaguars.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Jonah Coleman |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 7.88.38.8 | 1.21.41.7 |
| Consensus rank | RB41 | RB50 |
| Opponent vs position | SEA · 12 of 322-game sample | LAR · 11 of 322-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 5 of 32 | 17 of 32 |
| Rushing TDs | 1 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Rushing Attempts | 11 of 32 | 15 of 32 |
| Receptions | 29 of 32 | 20 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 23 of 32 | 12 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 1 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Target share | 3% | 5% |
| Reception share | 5% | 8% |
| Implied total · spread | 21.5+3.5 | 21.3+3.0 |
| Depth chart | RB1 | RB3 |
| Snap share | 43% | 23% |
Recent form
Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs DAL | 4.85.35.8 |
| Week 1 | vs PHI | 11.612.112.6 |
Jonah Coleman — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs JAX | 11.813.314.8 |
| Week 1 | vs KC | 0.00.00.0 |
Signal breakdown
- 8.8 vs 1.7 projected PPR pointsJacory Croskey-Merritt +
- Rank 41 vs 50Jacory Croskey-Merritt +
- Opponent DvP rank 12 vs 11 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 21.5 vs 21.3 team pointsJacory Croskey-Merritt +
- No injury designationseven
- 43% vs 23% snap shareJacory Croskey-Merritt +
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More Croskey-Merritt comparisons
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs SEAB. CorumBlake CorumRBLARvs DEN
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs SEAR. HarveyRJ HarveyRBDENvs LAR
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs SEAT. SpearsTyjae SpearsRBTENvs NYG
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs SEAW. MarksWoody MarksRBHOUvs IND
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