Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Jones vs Dameon PierceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Aaron Jones is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.7 PPG to Dameon Pierce's 6.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Aaron Jones is the better fantasy play this season.

Aaron Jones has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.3-PPG advantage is real (8.7 to 6.4), and Aaron Jones's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Dameon Pierce is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBMinnesota Vikings#34PPG LEADER

Aaron Jones

PPG

8.7

Games

Rush Yds

548

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

199

Bye

Week 6

RBHouston Texans#99

Dameon Pierce

PPG

6.4

Games

Rush Yds

342

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

108

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Dameon Pierce

Head to Head

8.7 PPG6.4 PPG

12 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Dameon Pierce: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Aaron Jones is producing at 40% of elite pace and Dameon Pierce at 29%. That ranking gap means Aaron Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Dameon Pierce: The Full Breakdown

Aaron Jones and Dameon Pierce are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 PPG across 12 games with the Minnesota Vikings, while Dameon Pierce posted 6.4 PPG in 13 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 2.3-PPG gap gives Aaron Jones the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Aaron Jones ran for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns; Dameon Pierce posted 342 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One scheduling note: Aaron Jones is off Week 6 and Dameon Pierce Week 14. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Aaron Jones (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Dameon Pierce (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Aaron Jones outscored Dameon Pierce by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dameon Pierce played 13 games in 2025 compared to Aaron Jones's 12. That durability gap means Dameon Pierce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Aaron Jones scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Jones vs Dameon Pierce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Jones	Dameon Pierce
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	6.4
Games Played	12	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	83
Rushing Yards	548	342
Rush Yds/Game	45.7	26.3
Rushing TDs	2	2
Receptions	28	15
Receiving Yards	199	108
Targets	41	0
Total TDs	3	2
Age	31	-
Experience	8 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 14

Summary

Aaron Jones outscored Dameon Pierce by 2.3 PPG in 2025 (8.7 to 6.4). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Aaron Jones or Dameon Pierce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Aaron Jones has the edge at 8.7 PPG compared to Dameon Pierce's 6.4 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Aaron Jones and Dameon Pierce average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Dameon Pierce averaged 6.4 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Dameon Pierce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Dameon Pierce (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aaron Jones or Dameon Pierce a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones outscored Dameon Pierce by 2.3 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.