Start Jacory Croskey-Merritt over Tyler Allgeier — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Croskey-Merritt's bigger role edges Allgeier in a match of two bench-and-hope backs

Neither back deserves a roster spot this week, but if you're forced to pick one, Croskey-Merritt's workload gives him the higher floor. He's playing on nearly a third more snaps than Allgeier and sits on the side of a game Washington is favored to control, which matters for a between-the-tackles grinder who needs plays to accumulate. Allgeier's red-zone finishing skill is real, but Arizona's own offense is projected for so few points that touches won't be there to convert. The DvP numbers on both sides carry zero games of sample and shouldn't move your thinking either way.

What flips it: A Friday clearance off the questionable tag locks in Croskey-Merritt; an inactive report flips this to Allgeier by default.

AI editor

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB41WSHvs PHI

7.37.88.3 Projected Points

Sit

Tyler Allgeier

RB45ARIvs LAC

5.46.16.8 Projected Points

Sit

Why Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Sit

Lead back and volume runner. Decisive one-cut rusher with tackle-breaking contact balance; limited passing-game work.

Sit — RB41 consensus, projects RB42 this week: 3% target share in 2025, Questionable on the latest report.

40% snap share is real lead-back volume even with almost no passing-game role to lean on.
20.5 implied team total gives Washington's offense more scoring plays for a one-cut rusher to hit paydirt.

Why Tyler Allgeier

Sit

Power back splitting a committee backfield. Compact downhill runner and short-yardage/goal-line finisher with red-zone scoring value.

Sit — RB45 consensus, projects RB47 this week: LAC is the 8th-toughest matchup vs RBs, 17.0 implied team total caps the ceiling.

Goal-line/short-yardage role has scoring value if Arizona ever gets into the red zone.
No injury designation means Allgeier is a lock to suit up, unlike the alternative.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	Tyler Allgeier
Projected points	7.37.88.3	5.46.16.8
Consensus rank	RB41	RB45
Opponent vs position	PHI · 19 of 320-game sample	LAC · 8 of 320-game sample
Rushing Yards	17 of 32	9 of 32
Rushing TDs	19 of 32	12 of 32
Rushing Attempts	23 of 32	6 of 32
Receptions	9 of 32	6 of 32
Receiving Yards	26 of 32	7 of 32
Anytime TD	20 of 32	6 of 32
Target share	3%(2025)	3%(2025)
Reception share	3%(2025)	4%(2025)
Implied total · spread	20.5+5.5	17.0+11.5
Depth chart	RB1	RB2
Snap share	40%(2025)	30%(2025)
Injury designation	Q	—