Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ezekiel Elliott vs Josh JacobsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.6 PPG to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy play this season.

Josh Jacobs is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.6 PPG and 1,211 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 Josh Jacobs 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

RBGreen Bay Packers#8PPG LEADER

Josh Jacobs

PPG

14.6

Games

Rush Yds

929

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Ezekiel Elliott

Josh Jacobs

Head to Head

7.2 PPG14.6 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Josh Jacobs: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #8 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Ezekiel Elliott is producing at 33% of elite pace and Josh Jacobs at 66%. That ranking gap means Josh Jacobs carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Josh Jacobs: The Full Breakdown

Josh Jacobs and Ezekiel Elliott are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Green Bay Packers running back averaged 14.6 PPG in 2025, a full 7.4 points per game ahead of Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 with the Dallas Cowboys. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Josh Jacobs carries a 7.4-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.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 452 yards and 3 touchdowns; Josh Jacobs posted 929 and 13. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Ezekiel Elliott has his bye in Week 7, and Josh Jacobs 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

If you can acquire Josh Jacobs 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. Josh Jacobs (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Josh Jacobs outscored Ezekiel Elliott by a projected 126 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Jacobs played 15 games in 2025 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 14. That durability gap means Josh Jacobs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Jacobs scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Josh Jacobs caught 36 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 Josh Jacobs: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ezekiel Elliott	Josh Jacobs
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.2	14.6
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	101	219
Rushing Yards	452	929
Rush Yds/Game	32.3	61.9
Rushing TDs	3	13
Receptions	18	36
Receiving Yards	128	282
Targets	0	44
Total TDs	3	14
Age	-	28
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Josh Jacobs holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.6 points per game. Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 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 Ezekiel Elliott or Josh Jacobs in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Jacobs has the edge at 14.6 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 Josh Jacobs average in 2025?▾

Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Josh Jacobs averaged 14.6 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 7.4 points per game.

When are Ezekiel Elliott and Josh Jacobs's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Josh Jacobs (GB) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ezekiel Elliott or Josh Jacobs a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Josh Jacobs outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 7.4 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.