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Head to Head

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CeeDee Lamb vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to CeeDee Lamb's 12.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.9-PPG advantage is real (15.5 to 12.6), and Rashee Rice's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. CeeDee Lamb 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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WRDallas Cowboys#11
CeeDee Lamb
PPG
12.6
Games
13
Rec
75
Rec Yds
1,077
Rec TDs
3
Targets
117
Bye
Week 14
WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER
Rashee Rice
PPG
15.5
Games
8
Rec
53
Rec Yds
571
Rec TDs
5
Targets
78
Bye
Week 5

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
CeeDee Lamb
Rashee Rice

Head to Head

12.6 PPG15.5 PPG
13 GP8 GP
Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

CeeDee Lamb: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #11 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, CeeDee Lamb is producing at 57% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

CeeDee Lamb vs Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

CeeDee Lamb and Rashee Rice are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. CeeDee Lamb averaged 12.6 PPG across 13 games with the Dallas Cowboys, while Rashee Rice posted 15.5 PPG in 8 appearances for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A 2.9-PPG gap gives Rashee Rice 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.

Target volume is the story here. CeeDee Lamb saw 117 targets in 2025, while Rashee Rice drew 78. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for CeeDee Lamb, even in weeks where Rashee Rice posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

CeeDee Lamb has his bye in Week 14, and Rashee Rice rests in Week 5. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver 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: CeeDee Lamb (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Rashee Rice outscored CeeDee Lamb by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • CeeDee Lamb played 13 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means CeeDee Lamb contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • CeeDee Lamb saw 117 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

CeeDee Lamb vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatCeeDee LambRashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)12.615.5
Games Played138
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)164124
Receptions7553
Rec/Game5.86.6
Receiving Yards1,077571
Rec Yds/Game82.871.4
Receiving TDs35
Targets11778
Target Share/Game9.09.8
Age2726
Experience5 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 14Week 5

Summary

Rashee Rice outscored CeeDee Lamb by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (15.5 to 12.6). 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 CeeDee Lamb or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to CeeDee Lamb's 12.6 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 CeeDee Lamb and Rashee Rice average in 2025?

CeeDee Lamb averaged 12.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are CeeDee Lamb and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?

CeeDee Lamb (DAL) has a bye in Week 14, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is CeeDee Lamb or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Rashee Rice outscored CeeDee Lamb by 2.9 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.