Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Diontae Johnson vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Diontae Johnson's 9.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.5 PPG and 591 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Diontae Johnson (9.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Rashee Rice as the starter and Diontae Johnson as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRBaltimore Ravens#99

Diontae Johnson

PPG

9.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

712

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Diontae Johnson

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

9.3 PPG15.5 PPG

15 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Diontae Johnson: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Diontae Johnson is producing at 42% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Diontae Johnson vs Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Rashee Rice put up 15.5 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while Diontae Johnson managed 9.3 across 15 games with the Baltimore Ravens. A 6.2-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

Rashee Rice carries a 6.2-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 are workload receivers with similar target shares. Diontae Johnson turned 95 targets into 712 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Diontae Johnson sits Week 14 while Rashee Rice is off Week 5. 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 Rashee Rice at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Diontae Johnson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Diontae Johnson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Diontae Johnson by a projected 105 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Diontae Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Diontae Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Diontae Johnson saw 95 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Diontae Johnson vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Diontae Johnson	Rashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.3	15.5
Games Played	15	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	140	124
Receptions	60	53
Rec/Game	4.0	6.6
Receiving Yards	712	571
Rec Yds/Game	47.5	71.4
Receiving TDs	3	5
Targets	95	78
Target Share/Game	6.3	9.8
Age	-	26
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Rashee Rice holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.5 points per game. Diontae Johnson averaged 9.3 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 Diontae Johnson or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Diontae Johnson's 9.3 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 Diontae Johnson and Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Diontae Johnson averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 6.2 points per game.

When are Diontae Johnson and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Diontae Johnson (BAL) has a bye in Week 14, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Diontae Johnson or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Diontae Johnson by 6.2 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.