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Elic Ayomanor vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Elic Ayomanor's 6.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.5 PPG and 591 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Elic Ayomanor (6.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Rashee Rice as the starter and Elic Ayomanor as depth.

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

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WRTennessee Titans#99
Elic Ayomanor
PPG
6.0
Games
16
Rec
41
Rec Yds
515
Rec TDs
4
Targets
89
Bye
Week 5
WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER
Rashee Rice
PPG
15.5
Games
8
Rec
53
Rec Yds
571
Rec TDs
5
Targets
78
Bye
Week 5

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Elic Ayomanor
Rashee Rice

Head to Head

6.0 PPG15.5 PPG
16 GP8 GP
Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Elic Ayomanor: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Elic Ayomanor is producing at 27% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Elic Ayomanor vs Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Rashee Rice put up 15.5 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while Elic Ayomanor managed 6.0 across 16 games with the Tennessee Titans. A 9.5-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

A 9.5-PPG gap gives Rashee Rice 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 are workload receivers with similar target shares. Elic Ayomanor turned 89 targets into 515 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 5 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Rashee Rice at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Elic Ayomanor is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Elic Ayomanor (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Rashee Rice outscored Elic Ayomanor by a projected 162 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Elic Ayomanor played 16 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Elic Ayomanor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Elic Ayomanor saw 89 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
  • Elic Ayomanor is 4 years younger than Rashee Rice (22 vs 26), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Elic Ayomanor vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatElic AyomanorRashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)6.015.5
Games Played168
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)96124
Receptions4153
Rec/Game2.66.6
Receiving Yards515571
Rec Yds/Game32.271.4
Receiving TDs45
Targets8978
Target Share/Game5.69.8
Age2226
Experience1 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 5Week 5

Summary

Rashee Rice outscored Elic Ayomanor by 9.5 PPG in 2025 (15.5 to 6.0). 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 Elic Ayomanor or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Elic Ayomanor's 6.0 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 Elic Ayomanor and Rashee Rice average in 2025?

Elic Ayomanor averaged 6.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 9.5 points per game.

Do Elic Ayomanor and Rashee Rice share a bye week?

Yes, both Elic Ayomanor and Rashee Rice share a Week 5 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at wide receiver for that week.

Is Elic Ayomanor or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Rashee Rice outscored Elic Ayomanor by 9.5 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.