Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Kenneth Walker IIIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Kenneth Walker III's 10.4 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. Kenneth Walker III (10.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Derrick Henry as the starter and Kenneth Walker III 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

RBSeattle Seahawks#29

Kenneth Walker III

PPG

10.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,027

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Kenneth Walker III

Head to Head

16.0 PPG10.4 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Kenneth Walker III: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #29 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Derrick Henry is producing at 73% of elite pace and Kenneth Walker III at 47%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derrick Henry vs Kenneth Walker III: The Full Breakdown

Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker III 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 Kenneth Walker III posted 10.4 PPG in 17 appearances for the Seattle Seahawks.

A 5.6-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; Kenneth Walker III posted 1027 and 5. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One scheduling note: Derrick Henry is off Week 13 and Kenneth Walker III Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Derrick Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Kenneth Walker III 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. Kenneth Walker III (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Kenneth Walker III by a projected 95 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Kenneth Walker III caught 31 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Kenneth Walker III is 7 years younger than Derrick Henry (25 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Kenneth Walker III: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Kenneth Walker III
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	10.4
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	177
Rushing Yards	1,595	1,027
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	60.4
Rushing TDs	16	5
Receptions	15	31
Receiving Yards	150	282
Targets	21	36
Total TDs	16	5
Age	32	25
Experience	9 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 11

Summary

Derrick Henry outscored Kenneth Walker III by 5.6 PPG in 2025 (16.0 to 10.4). 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 Kenneth Walker III in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Kenneth Walker III's 10.4 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 Kenneth Walker III average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Kenneth Walker III averaged 10.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.6 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker III's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Kenneth Walker III (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or Kenneth Walker III a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Kenneth Walker III by 5.6 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.