Who Should I Start? Jaylen Warren or Jacory Croskey-Merritt


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Jaylen Warren News

Jaylen Warren Slimmed Down Over the Offseason

Thursday, May 28, 12:08 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is down to 205 lbs. for OTAs and is "looking slimmer" per Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Warren was listed at 215 lbs. for the 2025 season. The 27-year-old set career-highs across the board last season for the Steelers, finishing the year with 1,291 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 251 touches across 16 games (15 starts). Entering 2026, Warren projects to split backfield reps with new Steelers running back Rico Dowdle, who was signed to a two-year contract in March. Dowdle profiles as more of a downhill, short-yardage back, so Warren's weight loss could be a sign that the team wants him to focus on shiftiness for an open-field, pass-catching role. Both Pittsburgh running backs profile as mid-tier RB3/flex options entering 2026.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Jacory Croskey-Merritt News

Jacory Croskey-Merritt Held Out of OTAs on Wednesday

Wednesday, May 27, 12:51 PM

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) is dressed but not participating in OTAs on Wednesday, per Commanders beat writer Ben Standig. It's not clear whether Croskey-Merritt is dealing with an injury, but fantasy managers should monitor for updates on his status in the coming weeks. The 25-year-old flashed high upside as a rookie in 2025, recording 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries across 17 games. Entering 2026, he appears to be in a job battle with Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford for the RB1 role in Washington. While Croskey-Merritt currently profiles as the best rusher of the group, he recorded just nine receptions as a rookie and may not be trusted to work on passing downs. Still, he could be poised for a breakout season in 2026, assuming he is not dealing with anything serious from a health perspective.


Jaylen Warren vs. Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Still trying to decide between Warren and Croskey-Merritt? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jaylen Warren is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Jacory Croskey-Merritt is projected to score 0.0 points.