Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Jones vs Jaylen WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Aaron Jones's 8.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaylen Warren has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.6-PPG advantage is real (12.3 to 8.7), and Jaylen Warren's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Aaron Jones 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#34

Aaron Jones

PPG

8.7

Games

Rush Yds

548

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

199

Bye

Week 6

RBPittsburgh Steelers#18PPG LEADER

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Jaylen Warren

Head to Head

8.7 PPG12.3 PPG

12 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Aaron Jones is producing at 40% of elite pace and Jaylen Warren at 56%. That ranking gap means Jaylen Warren carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Jaylen Warren: The Full Breakdown

Aaron Jones and Jaylen Warren 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 Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 PPG in 16 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 3.6-PPG gap gives Jaylen Warren 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.

Jaylen Warren is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 40 targets into 333 yards, while Aaron Jones profiles as a more traditional rusher with 548 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jaylen Warren carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Aaron Jones has his bye in Week 6, and Jaylen Warren rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jaylen Warren at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Aaron Jones is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Aaron Jones (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Warren outscored Aaron Jones by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Warren played 16 games in 2025 compared to Aaron Jones's 12. That durability gap means Jaylen Warren contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Warren scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jaylen Warren caught 40 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Jaylen Warren is 4 years younger than Aaron Jones (27 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Jones vs Jaylen Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Jones	Jaylen Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	12.3
Games Played	12	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	197
Rushing Yards	548	958
Rush Yds/Game	45.7	59.9
Rushing TDs	2	6
Receptions	28	40
Receiving Yards	199	333
Targets	41	45
Total TDs	3	8
Age	31	27
Experience	8 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 9

Summary

Jaylen Warren outscored Aaron Jones by 3.6 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 8.7). 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 Jaylen Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Warren has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Aaron Jones's 8.7 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 Jaylen Warren average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Jaylen Warren's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Jaylen Warren (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aaron Jones or Jaylen Warren a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jaylen Warren outscored Aaron Jones by 3.6 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.