Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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. Travis Kelce (9.1 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.

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

TEKansas City Chiefs#10

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

16.0 PPG9.1 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 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 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

Derrick Henry vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Derrick Henry (RB, Baltimore Ravens) against Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Travis Kelce posted 9.1 PPG across 17 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, Travis Kelce in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Derrick Henry is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Travis Kelce is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Travis Kelce by a projected 117 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.
•Travis Kelce caught 76 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Derrick Henry is 4 years younger than Travis Kelce (32 vs 36), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	9.1
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	155
Rushing Yards	1,595	1
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	0.1
Rushing TDs	16	0
Receptions	15	76
Receiving Yards	150	851
Targets	21	108
Total TDs	16	5
Age	32	36
Experience	9 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Derrick Henry at 16.0 PPG, 6.9 points per game above Travis Kelce's 9.1. 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 Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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 Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.9 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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