Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs Rico Dowdle
Who should you start in Week 6? This week's matchups and projections.
Who to start in Week 6
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Rico Dowdle by 0.0 projected points (9.1 vs 9.1), close enough that either call is defensible.
Rico Dowdle faces TB, the 12th-friendliest matchup a RB can draw this week. Jacory Croskey-Merritt faces SF, the 15th-friendliest matchup a RB can draw this week.
Season-long, the model still ranks Jacory Croskey-Merritt ahead. This is a matchup call for Week 6, not a change of heart about the rest of the year.
This-week points are each player's projected per-game scoring rate adjusted for the matchup.
The season-long call
This one is a coin flip. The model leans Jacory Croskey-Merritt by 1.5 points of value over replacement (-5.1 vs -6.6), close enough that your roster build should break the tie.
The room sees it the other way: drafters take Rico Dowdle first (ADP 76.6 vs 115.5). If the model is right, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the value pick, since the later cost buys the better 2026 projection.
Health note: Rico Dowdle carries an injury flag of Questionable (Toe), which is already reflected in his projection.
| Jacory Croskey-MerrittWAS | Rico DowdlePIT | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 6 opponent | SF | TB | |
| Projected Week 6 points | 9.1 | 9.1 | Even |
| Matchup rank (RB vs defense, of 28) | #15 | #12 | |
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 152.6 | 151.1 | Croskey-Merritt +1.5 pts |
| Points per game | 9.0 | 8.9 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | -5.1 | -6.6 | Croskey-Merritt +1.5 |
| Overall rank | #79 | #81 | Croskey-Merritt by 2 |
| Position rank | RB34 | RB35 | |
| Market ADP | 115.5 | 76.6 | Croskey-Merritt +38.9 cheaper |
| Typical round (12-team) | Rd 10 | Rd 7 | |
| Bye week | 7 | 9 | |
| Injury flag | None | Questionable |
Should I start Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Rico Dowdle in Week 6?
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Rico Dowdle by 0.0 projected points (9.1 vs 9.1), close enough that either call is defensible.
Should I draft Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Rico Dowdle in 2026 fantasy football?
Jacory Croskey-Merritt. He projects 152.6 fantasy points with -5.1 value over replacement, vs 151.1 points and -6.6 for Rico Dowdle (RB, PPR). It's close enough to let roster needs decide.