Alvin Kamara · Jacory Croskey-Merritt · 2026 week 9

Alvin Kamara or Jacory Croskey-Merritt?

Wondering who you should start this week — Alvin Kamara or Jacory Croskey-Merritt? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Alvin Kamara — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.5 points. The matchup leans Alvin Kamara (CLE allow the 16th-most RB points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 9	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
Alvin Kamara START	vs CLE	9.4	16th	10.2	680	Questionable
Jacory Croskey-Merritt	vs CIN	8.9	21st	8.8	163	IR

RBs vs CLE recently: Derrick Henry 4 pts (W6) · Tony Pollard 33.5 pts (W7) · Jaylen Warren 20.3 pts (W8).

RBs vs CIN recently: Ollie Gordon II 14.8 pts (W5) · Derrick Henry 4.9 pts (W7) · Tony Pollard 25.7 pts (W8).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.5 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Alvin Kamara faces CLE, 16th most generous to RBs.
Alvin Kamara is flagged WATCH.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt faces CIN, 21st most generous to RBs.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is flagged OUT.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Alvin Kamara carries the higher trade value — 680 against 163 (a 76% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Alvin Kamara gets the most. Momentum: Alvin Kamara -349 and Jacory Croskey-Merritt -602 over the last 30 days.

Open in Start/Sit (any scoring) Open in the Trade Analyzer

More RB decisions

Alvin Kamara or Woody Marks?Alvin Kamara or Rachaad White?Alvin Kamara or Jordan Mason?Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Devin Singletary?Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Kenny Gainwell?Jacory Croskey-Merritt or Emanuel Wilson?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.