Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Kalif Raymond: Who Should You Start?

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

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kalif Raymond grade out even this week. Croskey-Merritt's best edge is the matchup (24 of 32 to 14), Raymond's best edge is the projection (10.1 to 9.2) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

In standard scoring this flips to Croskey-Merritt.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs IND

Projected Points

Start
Kalif Raymond

Kalif Raymond

WRCHIvs NYJ

Projected Points

Start· medium

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 54.5
-114 / -110
Rushing Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+110
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Kalif Raymond’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-101 / -127
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 31.5
-110 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+360
Anytime Touchdown Props →
IND@
WSHSun, Oct 4, 9:30 AM ETView the game →
NYJ@
CHISun, 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.

  • IND ranks 24 of 32 against RBs (one of the softer matchups, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 26.0 team points as 1.5-point favorites.
  • Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 48% snap share.

Why Kalif Raymond

Start· medium

Veteran WR3 and slot/return specialist. Undersized speed piece with quickness and punt-return value.

23% target share and a 27.0 implied total as an 8.5-point favorite outweigh a neutral NYJ matchup; 10.1 projection plays as a flex.

  • NYJ ranks 14 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 27.0 team points as 8.5-point favorites.
  • Listed WR-3 on the latest depth chart with a 66% snap share.

The call

  • Usage is the driver: a 23% target share on 66% of snaps over 3 games gives him volume well above what a WR-3 depth-chart slot suggests.
  • Game environment helps. A 27.0 implied team total means scoring chances, though a -8.5 spread could mean a run-heavy fourth quarter that caps late volume.
  • The matchup is roughly neutral. NYJ ranks 14 of 32 vs WRs, but that rests on a 3-game sample with 0.25 confidence, so it shouldn't swing the call either way.
  • The 10.1 PPR projection makes him a viable flex over typical replacement options, with no injury designation. The WR-3 role and modest snap share keep the ceiling limited, so confidence stays medium.

Latest on Raymond

How to bet Eagles-Bears on MNF: Analysis, tips and favorite plays

Odds and analysis to help you bet Eagles-Bears on "Monday Night Football."

ESPN · Sep 28, 2026
Kalif Raymond proving to be reliable veteran target for Bears offense

Despite being the Bears' leading receiver in their Week 1 win over the Panthers, Kalif Raymond is focused more on the team's success than his personal stats, saying, "I don’t really look at that stuff ... we won, and that’s all I’m thinking about."

chicagobears.com · Sep 18, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJacory Croskey-MerrittKalif Raymond
Projected points
Consensus rankRB41—
Opponent vs positionIND · 24 of 323-game sampleNYJ · 14 of 323-game sample
Rushing Yards27 of 32—
Rushing TDs29 of 32—
Rushing Attempts21 of 32—
Receptions15 of 3220 of 32
Receiving Yards29 of 324 of 32
Anytime TD25 of 3214 of 32
Receiving TDs—15 of 32
Targets—15 of 32
Target share3%23%
Reception share5%29%
Implied total · spread26.0-1.527.0-8.5
Depth chartRB1WR3
Snap share48%66%

Recent form

Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 3 weeks

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

Kalif Raymond — last 3 weeks

Week 3vs PHI
Week 2vs MIN
Week 1vs CAR

Signal breakdown

  • 9.2 vs 10.1 projected PPR pointsKalif Raymond +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Opponent DvP rank 24 vs 14 (32 = softest)Jacory Croskey-Merritt +
  • Implied 26.0 vs 27.0 team pointsKalif Raymond +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 48% vs 66% snap shareKalif Raymond +

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