Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dylan Sampson vs Kyren WilliamsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyren Williams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.4 PPG to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyren Williams is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyren Williams is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.4 PPG and 1,533 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Dylan Sampson (4.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Kyren Williams as the starter and Dylan Sampson as depth.

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

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RBCleveland Browns#99

Dylan Sampson

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

175

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Bye

Week 10

RBLos Angeles Rams#11PPG LEADER

Kyren Williams

PPG

14.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,252

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Dylan Sampson

Kyren Williams

Head to Head

4.7 PPG14.4 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Dylan Sampson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Kyren Williams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #11 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Dylan Sampson is producing at 21% of elite pace and Kyren Williams at 65%. That ranking gap means Kyren Williams carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dylan Sampson vs Kyren Williams: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams) averaged 14.4 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Dylan Sampson (Cleveland Browns, 4.7 PPG) by 9.7 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 9.7-PPG gap gives Kyren Williams the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Dylan Sampson ran for 175 yards and undefined touchdowns; Kyren Williams posted 1252 and 10. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One scheduling note: Dylan Sampson is off Week 10 and Kyren Williams Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kyren Williams 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. Kyren Williams (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kyren Williams outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 165 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyren Williams played 17 games in 2025 compared to Dylan Sampson's 15. That durability gap means Kyren Williams contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyren Williams scored 13 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Kyren Williams caught 36 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Dylan Sampson is 4 years younger than Kyren Williams (21 vs 25), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dylan Sampson vs Kyren Williams: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dylan Sampson	Kyren Williams
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.7	14.4
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	71	245
Rushing Yards	175	1,252
Rush Yds/Game	11.7	73.6
Rushing TDs	0	10
Receptions	33	36
Receiving Yards	271	281
Targets	40	50
Total TDs	2	13
Age	21	25
Experience	1 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

Kyren Williams outscored Dylan Sampson by 9.7 PPG in 2025 (14.4 to 4.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dylan Sampson or Kyren Williams in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyren Williams has the edge at 14.4 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 Kyren Williams average in 2025?▾

Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Kyren Williams averaged 14.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 9.7 points per game.

When are Dylan Sampson and Kyren Williams's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dylan Sampson (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Kyren Williams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dylan Sampson or Kyren Williams a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kyren Williams outscored Dylan Sampson by 9.7 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.