Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Ladd McConkey: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
McConkey’s primary-target role gives him the stronger start
Start McConkey: his WR1 role gives him a clearer path to useful volume than Croskey-Merritt’s lead-back label when the back has limited passing-game work. The edge is meaningful, not overwhelming: McConkey’s stronger baseline and target role do more to separate them than the matchup numbers, whose two-game samples have no confidence. Croskey-Merritt has a real rushing role and the softer listed matchup, but McConkey’s cracked rib is the risk after he played through it last week.
What flips it: A setback from McConkey’s cracked rib (SI.com (OnSI) 2026-09-21).
Sources: SI.com (OnSI) · Sep 21, 2026
AI editor
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
7.88.38.8 Projected Points
Ladd McConkey
8.511.013.6 Projected Points
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market
Ladd McConkey’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 one-cut, tackle-breaking style gives him a rushing path if Washington can sustain its ground game.
- Seattle looks softer on paper, though the tiny DvP sample offers little reason to bank on it.
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 Ladd McConkey
StartWR1 and primary target. Elite separator from the slot or outside with precise route running.
Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR19: BUF is the 7th-softest matchup vs WRs, 19% target share.
- As the primary target, he has a stronger route to fantasy points through receptions than Croskey-Merritt does.
- He played through a cracked rib last week, making any setback the concern despite having no current designation.
Latest on McConkey
McConkey was questionable for Week 2 with a cracked rib suffered in Week 1, missed practice Wednesday/Thursday and was limited Friday, but ultimately played through the injury (possibly with a flak jacket) against the Raiders.
SI.com (OnSI) · Sep 21, 2026Here is who won't play Sunday for the Chargers against Las Vegas
Take a look at the Chargers Injury Report ahead of Week 2 against the Raiders
McConkey did not practice Wednesday or Thursday for the Chargers
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Ladd McConkey |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 7.88.38.8 | 8.511.013.6 |
| Consensus rank | RB41 | WR19 |
| Opponent vs position | SEA · 12 of 322-game sample | BUF · 26 of 322-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 5 of 32 | — |
| Rushing TDs | 1 of 32 | — |
| Rushing Attempts | 11 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | 29 of 32 | 27 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 23 of 32 | 29 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 1 of 32 | 22 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 22 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 31 of 32 |
| Target share | 3% | 19% |
| Reception share | 5% | 25% |
| Implied total · spread | 21.5+3.5 | 22.8+3.0 |
| Depth chart | RB1 | WR1 |
| Snap share | 43% | 48% |
Recent form
Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs DAL | 4.85.35.8 |
| Week 1 | vs PHI | 11.612.112.6 |
Ladd McConkey — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs LV | 3.55.06.5 |
| Week 1 | vs ARI | 14.216.719.2 |
Signal breakdown
- 8.8 vs 13.6 projected PPR pointsLadd McConkey +
- Rank 41 vs 19Ladd McConkey +
- Opponent DvP rank 12 vs 26 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 21.5 vs 22.8 team pointsLadd McConkey +
- No injury designationseven
- 43% vs 48% snap shareLadd McConkey +
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