Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dylan Sampson vs RJ HarveyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

RJ Harvey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.8 PPG to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

RJ Harvey is the better fantasy play this season.

RJ Harvey is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 10.8 PPG and 896 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 RJ Harvey 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

RBDenver Broncos#27PPG LEADER

RJ Harvey

PPG

10.8

Games

Rush Yds

540

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

356

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Dylan Sampson

RJ Harvey

Head to Head

4.7 PPG10.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Dylan Sampson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). RJ Harvey: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Dylan Sampson is producing at 21% of elite pace and RJ Harvey at 49%. That ranking gap means RJ Harvey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dylan Sampson vs RJ Harvey: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos) averaged 10.8 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Dylan Sampson (Cleveland Browns, 4.7 PPG) by 6.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.1-PPG gap gives RJ Harvey 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.

RJ Harvey is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 47 targets into 356 yards, while Dylan Sampson profiles as a more traditional rusher with 175 rushing yards and undefined touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats RJ Harvey carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

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

Did You Know?

•RJ Harvey outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 104 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•RJ Harvey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Dylan Sampson's 15. That durability gap means RJ Harvey contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•RJ Harvey scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•RJ Harvey caught 47 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 RJ Harvey (21 vs 25), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dylan Sampson vs RJ Harvey: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dylan Sampson	RJ Harvey
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.7	10.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	71	184
Rushing Yards	175	540
Rush Yds/Game	11.7	31.8
Rushing TDs	0	7
Receptions	33	47
Receiving Yards	271	356
Targets	40	58
Total TDs	2	12
Age	21	25
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

RJ Harvey outscored Dylan Sampson by 6.1 PPG in 2025 (10.8 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 RJ Harvey in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, RJ Harvey has the edge at 10.8 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 RJ Harvey average in 2025?▾

Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. RJ Harvey averaged 10.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.1 points per game.

Do Dylan Sampson and RJ Harvey share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Dylan Sampson and RJ Harvey share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Dylan Sampson or RJ Harvey a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

RJ Harvey outscored Dylan Sampson by 6.1 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.