Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Audric Estimé vs Khalil HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Audric Estimé is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.4 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Audric Estimé is the better fantasy play this season.

Audric Estimé has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.6-PPG advantage is real (8.4 to 5.8), and Audric Estimé's 1 touchdowns show scoring upside. Khalil Herbert 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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RBNew Orleans Saints#35PPG LEADER

Audric Estimé

PPG

8.4

Games

Rush Yds

198

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

103

Bye

Week 8

RBCincinnati Bengals#99

Khalil Herbert

PPG

5.8

Games

Rush Yds

248

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Audric Estimé

Khalil Herbert

Head to Head

8.4 PPG5.8 PPG

5 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Audric Estimé: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #35 at the position). Khalil Herbert: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Audric Estimé is producing at 38% of elite pace and Khalil Herbert at 26%. That ranking gap means Audric Estimé carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Audric Estimé vs Khalil Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Audric Estimé and Khalil Herbert are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Audric Estimé averaged 8.4 PPG across 5 games with the New Orleans Saints, while Khalil Herbert posted 5.8 PPG in 12 appearances for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 2.6-PPG gap gives Audric Estimé 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. Audric Estimé ran for 198 yards and 1 touchdowns; Khalil Herbert posted 248 and 2. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Audric Estimé has his bye in Week 8, and Khalil Herbert rests in Week 12. 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

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: Audric Estimé (age 22) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Khalil Herbert (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Audric Estimé outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Khalil Herbert played 12 games in 2025 compared to Audric Estimé's 5. That durability gap means Khalil Herbert contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Khalil Herbert scored 2 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Audric Estimé vs Khalil Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Audric Estimé	Khalil Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.4	5.8
Games Played	5	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	42	70
Rushing Yards	198	248
Rush Yds/Game	39.6	20.7
Rushing TDs	1	2
Receptions	12	12
Receiving Yards	103	85
Targets	13	0
Total TDs	1	2
Age	22	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 12

Summary

Audric Estimé outscored Khalil Herbert by 2.6 PPG in 2025 (8.4 to 5.8). 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 Audric Estimé or Khalil Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Audric Estimé has the edge at 8.4 PPG compared to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 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 Audric Estimé and Khalil Herbert average in 2025?▾

Audric Estimé averaged 8.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 5 games in 2025. Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Audric Estimé and Khalil Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Audric Estimé (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Khalil Herbert (CIN) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Audric Estimé or Khalil Herbert a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Audric Estimé outscored Khalil Herbert by 2.6 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.