Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Raheim SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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. Raheim Sanders (4.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Derrick Henry as the starter and Raheim Sanders 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

RBCleveland Browns#99

Raheim Sanders

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Raheim Sanders

Head to Head

16.0 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Raheim Sanders: 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 Raheim Sanders at 21%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derrick Henry vs Raheim Sanders: 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 Raheim Sanders managed 4.7 across 4 games with the Cleveland Browns. A 11.3-point weekly edge is substantial at the running back position.

Derrick Henry carries a 11.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Derrick Henry ran for 1595 yards and 16 touchdowns; Raheim Sanders posted 92 and 1. 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 Raheim Sanders is off Week 10. 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. Raheim Sanders 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. Raheim Sanders (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Raheim Sanders by a projected 192 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to Raheim Sanders's 4. 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.
•Raheim Sanders is 9 years younger than Derrick Henry (23 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Raheim Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Raheim Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	4.7
Games Played	17	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	19
Rushing Yards	1,595	92
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	23.0
Rushing TDs	16	1
Receptions	15	3
Receiving Yards	150	21
Targets	21	4
Total TDs	16	1
Age	32	23
Experience	9 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Derrick Henry holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.0 points per game. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 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 Raheim Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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 Raheim Sanders average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 11.3 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Raheim Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Raheim Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or Raheim Sanders a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Raheim Sanders by 11.3 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.