Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Jaylen WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Jaylen Warren's 12.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Derrick Henry has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.7-PPG advantage is real (16.0 to 12.3), and Derrick Henry's 16 touchdowns show scoring upside. Jaylen Warren 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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RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 13

RBPittsburgh Steelers#18

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Jaylen Warren

Head to Head

16.0 PPG12.3 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Derrick Henry is producing at 73% of elite pace and Jaylen Warren at 56%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derrick Henry vs Jaylen Warren: The Full Breakdown

Derrick Henry and Jaylen Warren are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG across 17 games with the Baltimore Ravens, while Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 PPG in 16 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 3.7-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.

Jaylen Warren is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 40 targets into 333 yards, while Derrick Henry profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jaylen Warren carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Derrick Henry has his bye in Week 13, and Jaylen Warren rests in Week 9. 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

If you can acquire Derrick Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Jaylen Warren 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. Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Jaylen Warren by a projected 63 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jaylen Warren'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.
•Jaylen Warren caught 40 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Jaylen Warren is 5 years younger than Derrick Henry (27 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Jaylen Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Jaylen Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	12.3
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	197
Rushing Yards	1,595	958
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	59.9
Rushing TDs	16	6
Receptions	15	40
Receiving Yards	150	333
Targets	21	45
Total TDs	16	8
Age	32	27
Experience	9 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 9

Summary

Derrick Henry outscored Jaylen Warren by 3.7 PPG in 2025 (16.0 to 12.3). 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 Jaylen Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Jaylen Warren's 12.3 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 Jaylen Warren average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.7 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Jaylen Warren's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Jaylen Warren (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or Jaylen Warren a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Jaylen Warren by 3.7 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.