Austin Ekeler vs Ezekiel Elliott: The Full Breakdown
Austin Ekeler and Ezekiel Elliott are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Austin Ekeler averaged 9.0 PPG across 14 games with the Washington Commanders, while Ezekiel Elliott posted 7.2 PPG in 14 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.
A 1.8-PPG gap gives Austin Ekeler 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.
Austin Ekeler is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 45 targets into 360 yards, while Ezekiel Elliott profiles as a more traditional rusher with 452 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Austin Ekeler carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
Austin Ekeler has his bye in Week 14, and Ezekiel Elliott rests in Week 7. 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.
