Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Ekeler vs Zach CharbonnetWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zach Charbonnet is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.7 PPG to Austin Ekeler's 9.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zach Charbonnet is the better fantasy play this season.

Zach Charbonnet has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (10.7 to 9.0), and Zach Charbonnet's 12 touchdowns show scoring upside. Austin Ekeler is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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RBWashington Commanders#99

Austin Ekeler

PPG

9.0

Games

Rush Yds

425

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

360

Bye

Week 14

RBSeattle Seahawks#28PPG LEADER

Zach Charbonnet

PPG

10.7

Games

Rush Yds

730

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

144

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Austin Ekeler

Zach Charbonnet

Head to Head

9.0 PPG10.7 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Ekeler: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Zach Charbonnet: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #28 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Austin Ekeler is producing at 41% of elite pace and Zach Charbonnet at 49%. That ranking gap means Zach Charbonnet carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Ekeler vs Zach Charbonnet: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Austin Ekeler (Washington Commanders) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.0 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Zach Charbonnet (Seattle Seahawks) came in at 10.7 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Zach Charbonnet carries a 1.7-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.

Austin Ekeler is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 45 targets into 360 yards, while Zach Charbonnet profiles as a more traditional rusher with 730 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Austin Ekeler carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

One scheduling note: Austin Ekeler is off Week 14 and Zach Charbonnet Week 11. 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

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: Austin Ekeler (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Zach Charbonnet (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Zach Charbonnet outscored Austin Ekeler by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zach Charbonnet played 16 games in 2025 compared to Austin Ekeler's 14. That durability gap means Zach Charbonnet contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zach Charbonnet scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Austin Ekeler caught 45 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Austin Ekeler vs Zach Charbonnet: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Ekeler	Zach Charbonnet
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.0	10.7
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	126	171
Rushing Yards	425	730
Rush Yds/Game	30.4	45.6
Rushing TDs	3	12
Receptions	45	20
Receiving Yards	360	144
Targets	0	24
Total TDs	5	12
Age	-	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Zach Charbonnet holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 10.7 points per game. Austin Ekeler averaged 9.0 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 Austin Ekeler or Zach Charbonnet in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Charbonnet has the edge at 10.7 PPG compared to Austin Ekeler's 9.0 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 Austin Ekeler and Zach Charbonnet average in 2025?▾

Austin Ekeler averaged 9.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Zach Charbonnet averaged 10.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Austin Ekeler and Zach Charbonnet's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Ekeler (WAS) has a bye in Week 14, and Zach Charbonnet (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Ekeler or Zach Charbonnet a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Zach Charbonnet outscored Austin Ekeler by 1.7 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.