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Dylan Sampson vs Tyjae SpearsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tyjae Spears is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.9 PPG to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tyjae Spears is the better fantasy play this season.

Tyjae Spears has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.2-PPG advantage is real (6.9 to 4.7), and Tyjae Spears's 2 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.

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RBCleveland Browns#99
Dylan Sampson
PPG
4.7
Games
15
Rush Yds
175
Rec
33
Rec Yds
271
Bye
Week 10
RBTennessee Titans#48PPG LEADER
Tyjae Spears
PPG
6.9
Games
13
Rush Yds
283
Rush TDs
2
Rec
45
Rec Yds
264
Bye
Week 9

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Dylan Sampson
Tyjae Spears

Head to Head

4.7 PPG6.9 PPG
15 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Dylan Sampson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Tyjae Spears: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #48 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Dylan Sampson is producing at 21% of elite pace and Tyjae Spears at 31%. That ranking gap means Tyjae Spears carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dylan Sampson vs Tyjae Spears: 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. Tyjae Spears (Tennessee Titans) came in at 6.9 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Tyjae Spears carries a 2.2-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.

Tyjae Spears is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 45 targets into 264 yards, while Dylan Sampson profiles as a more traditional rusher with 175 rushing yards and undefined touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Tyjae Spears carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Dylan Sampson has his bye in Week 10, and Tyjae Spears 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Dylan Sampson (age 21) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Tyjae Spears (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

  • Tyjae Spears outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Dylan Sampson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Tyjae Spears's 13. That durability gap means Dylan Sampson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Dylan Sampson scored 2 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
  • Tyjae Spears caught 45 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 Tyjae Spears: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDylan SampsonTyjae Spears
PPG (Half-PPR)4.76.9
Games Played1513
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)7190
Rushing Yards175283
Rush Yds/Game11.721.8
Rushing TDs02
Receptions3345
Receiving Yards271264
Targets4050
Total TDs22
Age2124
Experience1 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Tyjae Spears holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 6.9 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dylan Sampson or Tyjae Spears in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Tyjae Spears has the edge at 6.9 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 Tyjae Spears average in 2025?

Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Tyjae Spears averaged 6.9 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Dylan Sampson and Tyjae Spears's bye weeks in 2026?

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

Is Dylan Sampson or Tyjae Spears a better fantasy running back in 2026?

Tyjae Spears outscored Dylan Sampson by 2.2 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.