Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dylan Sampson vs Zonovan KnightWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zonovan Knight is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.8 PPG to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zonovan Knight is the better fantasy play this season.

Zonovan Knight is the better play on a neutral week. 6.8 PPG with 429 yards gives a reliable baseline. Dylan Sampson at 4.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Zonovan Knight higher, but do not fade Dylan Sampson entirely.

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

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Dylan Sampson and Zonovan Knight 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

RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER

Zonovan Knight

PPG

6.8

Games

Rush Yds

269

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

160

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Dylan Sampson

Zonovan Knight

Head to Head

4.7 PPG6.8 PPG

15 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Dylan Sampson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Zonovan Knight: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Dylan Sampson is producing at 21% of elite pace and Zonovan Knight at 31%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Dylan Sampson vs Zonovan Knight: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Dylan Sampson and Zonovan Knight is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Cleveland Browns running back put up 4.7 PPG in 2025 over 15 games; Zonovan Knight of the Arizona Cardinals averaged 6.8 in 12. A 2.1-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.1 points favors Zonovan Knight, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Dylan Sampson ran for 175 yards and undefined touchdowns; Zonovan Knight posted 269 and 4. 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 Zonovan Knight rests in Week 11. 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. Zonovan Knight (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Zonovan Knight outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dylan Sampson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Zonovan Knight's 12. That durability gap means Dylan Sampson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zonovan Knight scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 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.
•Dylan Sampson is 4 years younger than Zonovan Knight (21 vs 25), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dylan Sampson vs Zonovan Knight: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dylan Sampson	Zonovan Knight
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.7	6.8
Games Played	15	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	71	82
Rushing Yards	175	269
Rush Yds/Game	11.7	22.4
Rushing TDs	0	4
Receptions	33	22
Receiving Yards	271	160
Targets	40	31
Total TDs	2	5
Age	21	25
Experience	1 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

6.8 PPG for Zonovan Knight versus 4.7 for Dylan Sampson in 2025. The baseline favors Zonovan Knight, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Dylan Sampson vs Zonovan Knight

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 Zonovan Knight

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 Zonovan Knight in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zonovan Knight has the edge at 6.8 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 Zonovan Knight average in 2025?▾

Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Zonovan Knight averaged 6.8 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 2.1 points per game.

When are Dylan Sampson and Zonovan Knight's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Dylan Sampson or Zonovan Knight a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Zonovan Knight outscored Dylan Sampson by 2.1 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.