Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ezekiel Elliott vs Kenneth Walker IIIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kenneth Walker III is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.4 PPG to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kenneth Walker III is the better fantasy play this season.

Kenneth Walker III has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.2-PPG advantage is real (10.4 to 7.2), and Kenneth Walker III's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Ezekiel Elliott 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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RBDallas Cowboys#99

Ezekiel Elliott

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

452

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

128

Bye

Week 7

RBSeattle Seahawks#29PPG LEADER

Kenneth Walker III

PPG

10.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,027

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Ezekiel Elliott

Kenneth Walker III

Head to Head

7.2 PPG10.4 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Kenneth Walker III: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #29 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Ezekiel Elliott is producing at 33% of elite pace and Kenneth Walker III at 47%. That ranking gap means Kenneth Walker III carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Kenneth Walker III: The Full Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott and Kenneth Walker III 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 Kenneth Walker III posted 10.4 PPG in 17 appearances for the Seattle Seahawks.

A 3.2-PPG gap gives Kenneth Walker III 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 profile as early-down workhorses. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 452 yards and 3 touchdowns; Kenneth Walker III posted 1027 and 5. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One scheduling note: Ezekiel Elliott is off Week 7 and Kenneth Walker III Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kenneth Walker III 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. Kenneth Walker III (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Walker III outscored Ezekiel Elliott by a projected 54 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Walker III played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 14. That durability gap means Kenneth Walker III contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kenneth Walker III scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Kenneth Walker III caught 31 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 Kenneth Walker III: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ezekiel Elliott	Kenneth Walker III
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.2	10.4
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	101	177
Rushing Yards	452	1,027
Rush Yds/Game	32.3	60.4
Rushing TDs	3	5
Receptions	18	31
Receiving Yards	128	282
Targets	0	36
Total TDs	3	5
Age	-	25
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Kenneth Walker III outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 3.2 PPG in 2025 (10.4 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 Kenneth Walker III in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Walker III has the edge at 10.4 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 Kenneth Walker III average in 2025?▾

Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Kenneth Walker III averaged 10.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.2 points per game.

When are Ezekiel Elliott and Kenneth Walker III's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Kenneth Walker III (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ezekiel Elliott or Kenneth Walker III a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kenneth Walker III outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 3.2 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.