Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

Aaron Jones is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.7 PPG to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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 4.0-PPG advantage is real (8.7 to 4.7), and Aaron Jones's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Raheim 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

Rush Yds

548

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

199

Bye

Week 6

RBCleveland Browns#99

Raheim Sanders

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Raheim Sanders

Head to Head

8.7 PPG4.7 PPG

12 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Raheim Sanders: 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 Raheim Sanders at 21%. That ranking gap means Aaron Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Raheim Sanders: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.7 fantasy points per game in 12 games. Raheim Sanders (Cleveland Browns) came in at 4.7 PPG over 4 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Aaron Jones carries a 4.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Aaron Jones ran for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns; Raheim Sanders posted 92 and 1. 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 Raheim Sanders Week 10. 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

If you can acquire Aaron Jones at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Raheim Sanders 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. Raheim Sanders (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Aaron Jones outscored Raheim Sanders by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Aaron Jones played 12 games in 2025 compared to Raheim 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.
•Raheim Sanders is 8 years younger than Aaron Jones (23 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Jones vs Raheim Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Jones	Raheim Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	4.7
Games Played	12	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	19
Rushing Yards	548	92
Rush Yds/Game	45.7	23.0
Rushing TDs	2	1
Receptions	28	3
Receiving Yards	199	21
Targets	41	4
Total TDs	3	1
Age	31	23
Experience	8 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Aaron Jones holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.7 points per game. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Aaron Jones or Raheim Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Aaron Jones has the edge at 8.7 PPG compared to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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 Raheim Sanders average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

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

Aaron Jones (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Raheim Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Aaron Jones outscored Raheim Sanders by 4.0 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.