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Derrick Henry vs De'Von AchaneWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

De'Von Achane is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 18.1 PPG to Derrick Henry's 16.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

De'Von Achane is the better fantasy play this season.

De'Von Achane is the better play on a neutral week. 18.1 PPG with 1,838 yards gives a reliable baseline. Derrick Henry at 16.0 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft De'Von Achane higher, but do not fade Derrick Henry entirely.

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

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RBBaltimore Ravens#7
Derrick Henry
PPG
16.0
Games
17
Rush Yds
1,595
Rush TDs
16
Rec
15
Rec Yds
150
Bye
Week 13
RBMiami Dolphins#5PPG LEADER
De'Von Achane
PPG
18.1
Games
16
Rush Yds
1,350
Rush TDs
8
Rec
67
Rec Yds
488
Bye
Week 6

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Derrick Henry
De'Von Achane

Head to Head

16.0 PPG18.1 PPG
17 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). De'Von Achane: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Derrick Henry is producing at 73% of elite pace and De'Von Achane at 82%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Derrick Henry vs De'Von Achane: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Derrick Henry and De'Von Achane for your lineup, you are not alone. Derrick Henry finished the 2025 season at 16.0 PPG for the Baltimore Ravens (17 games), and De'Von Achane averaged 18.1 for the Miami Dolphins (16 games).

That 2.1-point weekly advantage for De'Von Achane 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.

De'Von Achane is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 67 targets into 488 yards, while Derrick Henry profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats De'Von Achane carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Derrick Henry has his bye in Week 13, and De'Von Achane rests in Week 6. 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.

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: Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. De'Von Achane (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

  • De'Von Achane outscored Derrick Henry by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to De'Von Achane's 16. That durability gap means Derrick Henry contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Derrick Henry scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
  • De'Von Achane caught 67 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
  • De'Von Achane is 8 years younger than Derrick Henry (24 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs De'Von Achane: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDerrick HenryDe'Von Achane
PPG (Half-PPR)16.018.1
Games Played1716
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)272290
Rushing Yards1,5951,350
Rush Yds/Game93.884.4
Rushing TDs168
Receptions1567
Receiving Yards150488
Targets2185
Total TDs1612
Age3224
Experience9 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 13Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor De'Von Achane at 18.1 PPG, 2.1 points per game above Derrick Henry's 16.0. 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 Derrick Henry or De'Von Achane in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, De'Von Achane has the edge at 18.1 PPG compared to Derrick Henry's 16.0 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 Derrick Henry and De'Von Achane average in 2025?

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. De'Von Achane averaged 18.1 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.1 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and De'Von Achane's bye weeks in 2026?

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and De'Von Achane (MIA) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or De'Von Achane a better fantasy running back in 2026?

De'Von Achane outscored Derrick Henry by 2.1 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.