Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Rashee Rice's 15.5 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. Rashee Rice (15.5 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

WRKansas City Chiefs#5

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

16.0 PPG15.5 PPG

17 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 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 Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Derrick Henry (RB, Baltimore Ravens) against Rashee Rice (WR, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Rashee Rice posted 15.5 PPG across 8 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, Rashee Rice in Week 5. 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. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Rashee Rice by a projected 9 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. 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.
•Rashee Rice caught 53 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Rashee Rice is 6 years younger than Derrick Henry (26 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Rashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	15.5
Games Played	17	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	124
Rushing Yards	1,595	20
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	2.5
Rushing TDs	16	1
Receptions	15	53
Receiving Yards	150	571
Targets	21	78
Total TDs	16	6
Age	32	26
Experience	9 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Derrick Henry at 16.0 PPG, 0.5 points per game above Rashee Rice's 15.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Derrick Henry or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Rashee Rice's 15.5 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 Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 0.5 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.