Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ezekiel Elliott vs Jaylen WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaylen Warren is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.3 PPG and 1,291 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Ezekiel Elliott (7.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jaylen Warren as the starter and Ezekiel Elliott as depth.

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

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RBDallas Cowboys#99

Ezekiel Elliott

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

452

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

128

Bye

Week 7

RBPittsburgh Steelers#18PPG LEADER

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Ezekiel Elliott

Jaylen Warren

Head to Head

7.2 PPG12.3 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Ezekiel Elliott is producing at 33% of elite pace and Jaylen Warren at 56%. That ranking gap means Jaylen Warren carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Jaylen Warren: The Full Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylen Warren are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 PPG across 14 games with the Dallas Cowboys, while Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 PPG in 16 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 5.1-PPG gap gives Jaylen Warren 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.

Jaylen Warren is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 40 targets into 333 yards, while Ezekiel Elliott profiles as a more traditional rusher with 452 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jaylen Warren carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Ezekiel Elliott sits Week 7 while Jaylen Warren is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jaylen Warren at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Ezekiel Elliott is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Ezekiel Elliott (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Warren outscored Ezekiel Elliott by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Warren played 16 games in 2025 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 14. That durability gap means Jaylen Warren contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Warren scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jaylen Warren caught 40 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott vs Jaylen Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ezekiel Elliott	Jaylen Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.2	12.3
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	101	197
Rushing Yards	452	958
Rush Yds/Game	32.3	59.9
Rushing TDs	3	6
Receptions	18	40
Receiving Yards	128	333
Targets	0	45
Total TDs	3	8
Age	-	27
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 9

Summary

Jaylen Warren outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 5.1 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 7.2). 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 Ezekiel Elliott or Jaylen Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Warren has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 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 Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylen Warren average in 2025?▾

Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylen Warren's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Jaylen Warren (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ezekiel Elliott or Jaylen Warren a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jaylen Warren outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 5.1 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.