Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Ja'Marr ChaseWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Ja'Marr Chase's 15.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Derrick Henry (16.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Ja'Marr Chase (15.7 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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

WRCincinnati Bengals#3

Ja'Marr Chase

PPG

15.7

Games

Rec

125

Rec Yds

1,412

Rec TDs

Targets

185

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Ja'Marr Chase

Head to Head

16.0 PPG15.7 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) WR in most league formats.

Derrick Henry vs Ja'Marr Chase: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Derrick Henry (RB, Baltimore Ravens) against Ja'Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Ja'Marr Chase posted 15.7 PPG across 16 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.

Derrick Henry has his bye in Week 13, Ja'Marr Chase in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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. Ja'Marr Chase (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Ja'Marr Chase by a projected 5 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ja'Marr Chase'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.
•Ja'Marr Chase caught 125 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Ja'Marr Chase is 6 years younger than Derrick Henry (26 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Ja'Marr Chase: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Ja'Marr Chase
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	15.7
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	251
Rushing Yards	1,595	14
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	0.9
Rushing TDs	16	0
Receptions	15	125
Receiving Yards	150	1,412
Targets	21	185
Total TDs	16	8
Age	32	26
Experience	9 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Derrick Henry holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.0 points per game. Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Derrick Henry or Ja'Marr Chase in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Ja'Marr Chase's 15.7 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 Ja'Marr Chase average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 0.3 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Ja'Marr Chase's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.