Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cooper Kupp vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Cooper Kupp's 10.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice is the better play on a neutral week. 15.5 PPG with 591 yards gives a reliable baseline. Cooper Kupp at 10.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Rashee Rice higher, but do not fade Cooper Kupp entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRLos Angeles Rams#99

Cooper Kupp

PPG

10.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

748

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Cooper Kupp

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

10.8 PPG15.5 PPG

12 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Kupp: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Cooper Kupp is producing at 49% 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.

Cooper Kupp vs Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Cooper Kupp and Rashee Rice for your lineup, you are not alone. Cooper Kupp finished the 2025 season at 10.8 PPG for the Los Angeles Rams (12 games), and Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 for the Kansas City Chiefs (8 games).

That 4.7-point weekly advantage for Rashee Rice is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Cooper Kupp turned 92 targets into 748 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Cooper Kupp has his bye in Week 6, 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

Rashee Rice is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Cooper Kupp is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Cooper Kupp (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 Cooper Kupp by a projected 80 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cooper Kupp played 12 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Cooper Kupp 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.
•Cooper Kupp saw 92 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Kupp vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cooper Kupp	Rashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.8	15.5
Games Played	12	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	130	124
Receptions	62	53
Rec/Game	5.2	6.6
Receiving Yards	748	571
Rec Yds/Game	62.3	71.4
Receiving TDs	5	5
Targets	92	78
Target Share/Game	7.7	9.8
Age	-	26
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Rashee Rice at 15.5 PPG, 4.7 points per game above Cooper Kupp's 10.8. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cooper Kupp or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Cooper Kupp's 10.8 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 Cooper Kupp and Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Cooper Kupp averaged 10.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 4.7 points per game.

When are Cooper Kupp and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cooper Kupp (LAR) has a bye in Week 6, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cooper Kupp or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Cooper Kupp by 4.7 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.