Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Tee Higgins: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Higgins’ established target role narrowly edges Croskey-Merritt’s rushing path

Start Tee Higgins, but the margin is narrow: his stronger standing and broader receiving role give him the safer weekly floor. Croskey-Merritt benefits from the better team scoring environment and a lead-back rushing profile, which could matter if Washington controls the game. Higgins’ actual risk is touchdown dependence as a WR2, while Croskey-Merritt’s limited passing-game involvement leaves less room to recover if his rushing lanes disappear.

What flips it: A confirmed expansion of Croskey-Merritt’s passing-game role.

AI editor

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs DAL

Projected Points

Start
Tee Higgins

Tee Higgins

WR21CINvs HOU

Projected Points

Toss-Up

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 55.5
-113 / -111
Rushing Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+110
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Tee Higgins’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-144 / +113
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 54.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+175
Anytime Touchdown Props →
WSH@
DALSun, Sep 20, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
CIN@
HOUSun, Sep 20, 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 RB31 this week: 3% target share, 10.2 PPR projected vs DAL.

  • Washington’s stronger scoring outlook gives his goal-line rushing profile a credible path to outperform.
  • His lead-back role can produce useful volume even if Dallas limits his receiving chances.

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 Tee Higgins

Toss-Up

WR2 and red-zone mismatch. Big-bodied contested-catch winner with elite touchdown conversion.

Toss-up — WR21 consensus, projects WR26 this week: 18% target share, 12.3 PPR projected vs HOU.

  • A wider route and target role gives him more ways to score when the Bengals’ offense stalls.
  • His red-zone mismatch creates touchdown upside that the favorable script alone cannot provide for Croskey-Merritt.

Latest on Higgins

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJacory Croskey-MerrittTee Higgins
Projected points
Consensus rankRB41WR21
Opponent vs positionDAL · 17 of 321-game sampleHOU · 21 of 321-game sample
Rushing Yards22 of 32—
Rushing TDs15 of 32—
Rushing Attempts20 of 32—
Receptions12 of 3215 of 32
Receiving Yards11 of 3225 of 32
Anytime TD22 of 3225 of 32
Receiving TDs—25 of 32
Targets—15 of 32
Target share3%18%
Reception share6%12%
Implied total · spread23.5+4.522.0+2.5
Depth chartRB1WR2
Snap share49%72%
Start/Sit record—0–1

Recent form

Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 1 week

Week 1vs PHI

Tee Higgins — last 1 week

Week 1vs TB

Signal breakdown

  • 10.2 vs 12.3 projected PPR pointsTee Higgins +
  • Rank 41 vs 21Tee Higgins +
  • Opponent DvP rank 17 vs 21 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 23.5 vs 22.0 team pointsJacory Croskey-Merritt +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 49% vs 72% snap shareTee Higgins +

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