Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Jones vs Najee HarrisWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Najee Harris is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.8 PPG to Aaron Jones's 8.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Najee Harris is the better fantasy play this season.

Najee Harris has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.1-PPG advantage is real (12.8 to 8.7), and Najee Harris's 7 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#99PPG LEADER

Najee Harris

PPG

12.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,010

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

225

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Najee Harris

Head to Head

8.7 PPG12.8 PPG

12 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Najee Harris: 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 Najee Harris at 58%. That ranking gap means Aaron Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Najee Harris: The Full Breakdown

Aaron Jones and Najee Harris 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 Najee Harris posted 12.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 4.1-PPG gap gives Najee Harris 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; Najee Harris posted 1010 and 6. 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 Najee Harris is off Week 9. 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

If you can acquire Najee Harris 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. Najee Harris (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Najee Harris outscored Aaron Jones by a projected 70 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Najee Harris played 17 games in 2025 compared to Aaron Jones's 12. That durability gap means Najee Harris contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Najee Harris scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Jones vs Najee Harris: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Jones	Najee Harris
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	12.8
Games Played	12	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	218
Rushing Yards	548	1,010
Rush Yds/Game	45.7	59.4
Rushing TDs	2	6
Receptions	28	30
Receiving Yards	199	225
Targets	41	0
Total TDs	3	7
Age	31	-
Experience	8 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 9

Summary

Najee Harris outscored Aaron Jones by 4.1 PPG in 2025 (12.8 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 Najee Harris in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Najee Harris has the edge at 12.8 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 Najee Harris average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Najee Harris averaged 12.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.1 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Najee Harris's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Aaron Jones or Najee Harris a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Najee Harris outscored Aaron Jones by 4.1 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.