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Head to Head

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Aaron Jones vs Miles SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Aaron Jones is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.7 PPG to Miles Sanders's 5.7 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 3.0-PPG advantage is real (8.7 to 5.7), and Aaron Jones's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Miles Sanders 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
12
Rush Yds
548
Rush TDs
2
Rec
28
Rec Yds
199
Bye
Week 6
RBDallas Cowboys#56
Miles Sanders
PPG
5.7
Games
4
Rush Yds
117
Rush TDs
1
Rec
8
Rec Yds
30
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Aaron Jones
Miles Sanders

Head to Head

8.7 PPG5.7 PPG
12 GP4 GP
Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Miles Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #56 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Aaron Jones is producing at 40% of elite pace and Miles Sanders at 26%. That ranking gap means Aaron Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Miles Sanders: The Full Breakdown

Aaron Jones and Miles Sanders 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 Miles Sanders posted 5.7 PPG in 4 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.

A 3.0-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; Miles Sanders posted 117 and 1. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Aaron Jones sits Week 6 while Miles Sanders is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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. Miles Sanders (age 29, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Aaron Jones outscored Miles Sanders by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Aaron Jones played 12 games in 2025 compared to Miles Sanders's 4. That durability gap means Aaron Jones 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 Miles Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatAaron JonesMiles Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)8.75.7
Games Played124
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)10423
Rushing Yards548117
Rush Yds/Game45.729.3
Rushing TDs21
Receptions288
Receiving Yards19930
Targets418
Total TDs31
Age3129
Experience8 yrs6 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 6Week 14

Summary

Aaron Jones outscored Miles Sanders by 3.0 PPG in 2025 (8.7 to 5.7). 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 Miles Sanders in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Aaron Jones has the edge at 8.7 PPG compared to Miles Sanders's 5.7 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 Miles Sanders average in 2025?

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Miles Sanders averaged 5.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Miles Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?

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

Is Aaron Jones or Miles Sanders a better fantasy running back in 2026?

Aaron Jones outscored Miles Sanders by 3.0 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.

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