Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Tyler Warren: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Warren: elite TE role outweighs Croskey-Merritt's better scoring environment
Tyler Warren is the sturdier start because his every-down TE role and receiving profile give him a much safer path to production than Jacory Croskey-Merritt's split workload. Croskey-Merritt does benefit from Washington's stronger implied total, and his recent touchdown shows the upside, but his limited passing-game involvement makes that scoring path fragile. Warren's lower team total is less concerning because he is the Colts' mismatch receiver and can contribute without needing a runaway offensive game. Both remain starts, but Warren is the clear preference; Croskey-Merritt's risk is that his lead-back label does not translate into enough snaps or targets.
What flips it: A surprise expansion of Croskey-Merritt's passing-game role.
Sources: ESPN · Sep 13, 2026
AI editor
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
9.09.610.2 Projected Points
Tyler Warren
6.69.011.4 Projected Points
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s market
Tyler Warren’s market
Why Jacory Croskey-Merritt
StartLead 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 higher scoring environment creates a credible touchdown path.
- The recent goal-line score shows his contact balance can convert limited chances. [ESPN 2026-09-13]
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 Tyler Warren
StartTE1 and high-volume mismatch receiver. Move-piece with contested-catch strength and gadget rushing usage.
Start — every-week TE start at consensus TE4: 17% target share, 11.4 PPR projected vs KC.
- His every-down receiving role gives him a sturdier floor than a split backfield workload.
- Gadget rushing and contested-catch ability create scoring routes beyond ordinary TE volume.
Latest on Warren
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Tyler Warren |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 9.09.610.2 | 6.69.011.4 |
| Consensus rank | RB41 | TE4 |
| Opponent vs position | DAL · 17 of 321-game sample | KC · 20 of 321-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 22 of 32 | — |
| Rushing TDs | 15 of 32 | — |
| Rushing Attempts | 21 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | 12 of 32 | 18 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 11 of 32 | 17 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 22 of 32 | 20 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 21 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 22 of 32 |
| Target share | 3% | 17% |
| Reception share | 6% | 16% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.5+4.5 | 20.5+6.5 |
| Depth chart | RB1 | TE1 |
| Snap share | 49% | 93% |
Recent form
Jacory Croskey-Merritt — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs PHI | 11.612.112.6 |
Tyler Warren — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs BAL | 7.38.810.3 |
Signal breakdown
- 10.2 vs 11.4 projected PPR pointsTyler Warren +
- Rank 41 vs 4Tyler Warren +
- Opponent DvP rank 17 vs 20 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 23.5 vs 20.5 team pointsJacory Croskey-Merritt +
- No injury designationseven
- 49% vs 93% snap shareTyler Warren +
Compare different players
Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.
More Croskey-Merritt comparisons
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs DALB. CorumBlake CorumRBLARvs NYG
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs DALR. HarveyRJ HarveyRBDENvs JAX
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs DALT. SpearsTyjae SpearsRBTENvs PHI
- J. Croskey-MerrittJacory Croskey-MerrittRBWSHvs DALW. MarksWoody MarksRBHOUvs CIN
More Warren comparisons
This week’s toughest calls
- K. WilliamsKyren WilliamsRBLARvs NYG
C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LAR
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MINB. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLE
- B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLED. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIN
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CINJ. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARI
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUF
- J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUFL. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MIN
- L. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MINM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJC. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAX
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXM. GoldenMatthew GoldenWRGBvs NYJ
- K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs CAR
G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIA
- G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIAS. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF
- S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUFT. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJ
- T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJT. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs IND
- T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs INDD. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TEN
- D. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TENJ. FergusonJake FergusonTEDALvs WSH
- D. PrescottDak PrescottQBDALvs WSH
J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LAR
- J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LARJ. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LV
- J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LVC. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MIN
- C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MINB. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIA
- B. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIAP. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs IND
- P. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs INDB. NixBo NixQBDENvs JAX
- K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CIN
H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs IND
- H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs INDT. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NO
- T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NOC. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MIN
- C. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MINC. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLE
- C. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLEN. FolkNick FolkKATLvs CAR
- N. FolkNick FolkKATLvs CART. SmackTrey SmackKGBvs NYJ
- Buccaneers D/STBuccaneers D/STDSTTBvs CLE
Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV
- Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV49ers D/ST49ers D/STDSTSFvs MIA
- 49ers D/ST49ers D/STDSTSFvs MIABears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MIN
- Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MINBroncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAX
- Broncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAXPackers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJ
- Packers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJPanthers D/STPanthers D/STDSTCARvs ATL
- A. Jones Sr.Aaron Jones Sr.RBMINvs CHI
D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG - D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYGD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXJ. DobbinsJ.K. DobbinsRBDENvs JAX
- J. WarrenJaylen WarrenRBPITvs NE
S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF - S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUFM. LloydMarShawn LloydRBGBvs NYJ
Get a Start/Sit call on your whole roster →
Save your team once and see a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up verdict on every player, every week — with the matchup, usage and game-script evidence behind each call.
Add to My Team — freeOr browse this week’s NFL games or NFL player props.