Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brenton Strange vs Joe MixonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Brenton Strange's 7.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Joe Mixon (16.5 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Brenton Strange (7.9 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Brenton Strange and Joe Mixon in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEJacksonville Jaguars#19

Brenton Strange

PPG

7.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

540

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Brenton Strange

Joe Mixon

Head to Head

7.9 PPG16.5 PPG

12 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Brenton Strange: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #19 at the position). Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Deep League) RB in most league formats.

Brenton Strange vs Joe Mixon: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Brenton Strange (TE, Jacksonville Jaguars) against Joe Mixon (RB, Houston Texans) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 PPG in 2025 over 12 games, while Joe Mixon posted 16.5 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Brenton Strange has his bye in Week 7, Joe Mixon in Week 14. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Joe Mixon is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Brenton Strange is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Brenton Strange (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Brenton Strange by a projected 146 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to Brenton Strange's 12. That durability gap means Joe Mixon contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brenton Strange vs Joe Mixon: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brenton Strange	Joe Mixon
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.9	16.5
Games Played	12	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	248
Rushing Yards	0	1,165
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	77.7
Rushing TDs	0	11
Receptions	46	32
Receiving Yards	540	240
Targets	60	0
Total TDs	3	12
Age	25	-
Experience	2 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 14

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Joe Mixon at 16.5 PPG, 8.6 points per game above Brenton Strange's 7.9. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Brenton Strange vs Joe Mixon

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Brenton Strange vs Joe Mixon

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brenton Strange or Joe Mixon in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Brenton Strange's 7.9 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 Brenton Strange and Joe Mixon average in 2025?▾

Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 8.6 points per game.

When are Brenton Strange and Joe Mixon's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brenton Strange (JAX) has a bye in Week 7, and Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.