Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dylan Sampson vs Kimani VidalWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kimani Vidal is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.2 PPG to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kimani Vidal is the better fantasy play this season.

Kimani Vidal has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.5-PPG advantage is real (9.2 to 4.7), and Kimani Vidal's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Dylan Sampson is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Dylan Sampson and Kimani Vidal in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBCleveland Browns#99

Dylan Sampson

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

175

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Bye

Week 10

RBLos Angeles Chargers#32PPG LEADER

Kimani Vidal

PPG

9.2

Games

Rush Yds

643

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

136

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Dylan Sampson

Kimani Vidal

Head to Head

4.7 PPG9.2 PPG

15 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Dylan Sampson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Kimani Vidal: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Dylan Sampson is producing at 21% of elite pace and Kimani Vidal at 42%. That ranking gap means Kimani Vidal carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dylan Sampson vs Kimani Vidal: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Dylan Sampson (Cleveland Browns) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.7 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Kimani Vidal (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 9.2 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Kimani Vidal carries a 4.5-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. Dylan Sampson ran for 175 yards and undefined touchdowns; Kimani Vidal posted 643 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Dylan Sampson has his bye in Week 10, and Kimani Vidal rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kimani Vidal at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Dylan Sampson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Dylan Sampson (age 21) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Kimani Vidal (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kimani Vidal outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 76 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dylan Sampson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Kimani Vidal's 12. That durability gap means Dylan Sampson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kimani Vidal scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Dylan Sampson caught 33 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dylan Sampson vs Kimani Vidal: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dylan Sampson	Kimani Vidal
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.7	9.2
Games Played	15	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	71	110
Rushing Yards	175	643
Rush Yds/Game	11.7	53.6
Rushing TDs	0	3
Receptions	33	16
Receiving Yards	271	136
Targets	40	22
Total TDs	2	4
Age	21	24
Experience	1 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Kimani Vidal holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.2 points per game. Dylan Sampson 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Dylan Sampson vs Kimani Vidal

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Dylan Sampson vs Kimani Vidal

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dylan Sampson or Kimani Vidal in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kimani Vidal has the edge at 9.2 PPG compared to Dylan Sampson'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 Dylan Sampson and Kimani Vidal average in 2025?▾

Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Kimani Vidal averaged 9.2 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 4.5 points per game.

When are Dylan Sampson and Kimani Vidal's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dylan Sampson (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Kimani Vidal (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dylan Sampson or Kimani Vidal a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kimani Vidal outscored Dylan Sampson by 4.5 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.