Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Ezekiel ElliottWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Derrick Henry is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.0 PPG and 1,745 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Ezekiel Elliott (7.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Derrick Henry as the starter and Ezekiel Elliott as depth.

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

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RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 13

RBDallas Cowboys#99

Ezekiel Elliott

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

452

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

128

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Ezekiel Elliott

Head to Head

16.0 PPG7.2 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Derrick Henry is producing at 73% of elite pace and Ezekiel Elliott at 33%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derrick Henry vs Ezekiel Elliott: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Derrick Henry put up 16.0 fantasy points per game for the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, while Ezekiel Elliott managed 7.2 across 14 games with the Dallas Cowboys. A 8.8-point weekly edge is substantial at the running back position.

A 8.8-PPG gap gives Derrick Henry 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.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Derrick Henry ran for 1595 yards and 16 touchdowns; Ezekiel Elliott posted 452 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Derrick Henry sits Week 13 while Ezekiel Elliott is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Derrick Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Ezekiel Elliott is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Ezekiel Elliott (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Ezekiel Elliott by a projected 150 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 14. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Ezekiel Elliott: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Ezekiel Elliott
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	7.2
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	101
Rushing Yards	1,595	452
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	32.3
Rushing TDs	16	3
Receptions	15	18
Receiving Yards	150	128
Targets	21	0
Total TDs	16	3
Age	32	-
Experience	9 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 7

Summary

Derrick Henry outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 8.8 PPG in 2025 (16.0 to 7.2). 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 Derrick Henry or Ezekiel Elliott in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 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 Ezekiel Elliott average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 8.8 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliott's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or Ezekiel Elliott a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 8.8 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.