Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dylan Sampson vs Tony PollardWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tony Pollard is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.0 PPG to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tony Pollard is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Tony Pollard outscored Dylan Sampson by 5.3 PPG in 2025 with 5 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Tony Pollard is the clear pick. Dylan Sampson profiles as a matchup-dependent running back who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

RBTennessee Titans#30PPG LEADER

Tony Pollard

PPG

10.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,082

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

206

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Dylan Sampson

Tony Pollard

Head to Head

4.7 PPG10.0 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Dylan Sampson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Tony Pollard: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Dylan Sampson is producing at 21% of elite pace and Tony Pollard at 45%. That ranking gap means Tony Pollard carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dylan Sampson vs Tony Pollard: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Dylan Sampson and Tony Pollard for your lineup, you are not alone. Dylan Sampson finished the 2025 season at 4.7 PPG for the Cleveland Browns (15 games), and Tony Pollard averaged 10.0 for the Tennessee Titans (17 games).

That 5.3-point weekly advantage for Tony Pollard is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Dylan Sampson ran for 175 yards and undefined touchdowns; Tony Pollard posted 1082 and 5. 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 Tony Pollard rests in Week 9. 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

Tony Pollard is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Dylan Sampson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Dylan Sampson (age 21) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Tony Pollard (age 29, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Tony Pollard outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Tony Pollard played 17 games in 2025 compared to Dylan Sampson's 15. That durability gap means Tony Pollard contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tony Pollard scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Tony Pollard caught 33 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Dylan Sampson is 8 years younger than Tony Pollard (21 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dylan Sampson vs Tony Pollard: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dylan Sampson	Tony Pollard
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.7	10.0
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	71	170
Rushing Yards	175	1,082
Rush Yds/Game	11.7	63.6
Rushing TDs	0	5
Receptions	33	33
Receiving Yards	271	206
Targets	40	41
Total TDs	2	5
Age	21	29
Experience	1 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 9

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Tony Pollard at 10.0 PPG, 5.3 points per game above Dylan Sampson's 4.7. 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 Dylan Sampson or Tony Pollard in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tony Pollard has the edge at 10.0 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 Tony Pollard average in 2025?▾

Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Tony Pollard averaged 10.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Dylan Sampson and Tony Pollard's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dylan Sampson (CLE) has a bye in Week 10, and Tony Pollard (TEN) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dylan Sampson or Tony Pollard a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Tony Pollard outscored Dylan Sampson by 5.3 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.