Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ezekiel Elliott vs Miles SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ezekiel Elliott is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.2 PPG to Miles Sanders's 5.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ezekiel Elliott is the better fantasy play this season.

Ezekiel Elliott has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.5-PPG advantage is real (7.2 to 5.7), and Ezekiel Elliott's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Miles Sanders is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Ezekiel Elliott and Miles Sanders in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBDallas Cowboys#99PPG LEADER

Ezekiel Elliott

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

452

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

128

Bye

Week 7

RBDallas Cowboys#56

Miles Sanders

PPG

5.7

Games

Rush Yds

117

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Ezekiel Elliott

Miles Sanders

Head to Head

7.2 PPG5.7 PPG

14 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Miles Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #56 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Ezekiel Elliott is producing at 33% of elite pace and Miles Sanders at 26%. That ranking gap means Miles Sanders carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Miles Sanders: The Full Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott and Miles Sanders 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 Miles Sanders posted 5.7 PPG in 4 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.

A 1.5-PPG gap gives Ezekiel Elliott 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; Miles Sanders posted 117 and 1. 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 Miles Sanders Week 14. 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

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: Ezekiel Elliott (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Miles Sanders (age 29, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Ezekiel Elliott outscored Miles Sanders by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ezekiel Elliott played 14 games in 2025 compared to Miles Sanders's 4. That durability gap means Ezekiel Elliott contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ezekiel Elliott scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott vs Miles Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ezekiel Elliott	Miles Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.2	5.7
Games Played	14	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	101	23
Rushing Yards	452	117
Rush Yds/Game	32.3	29.3
Rushing TDs	3	1
Receptions	18	8
Receiving Yards	128	30
Targets	0	8
Total TDs	3	1
Age	-	29
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 14

Summary

Ezekiel Elliott outscored Miles Sanders by 1.5 PPG in 2025 (7.2 to 5.7). 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Ezekiel Elliott vs Miles Sanders

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 Ezekiel Elliott vs Miles Sanders

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 Ezekiel Elliott or Miles Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ezekiel Elliott has the edge at 7.2 PPG compared to Miles Sanders's 5.7 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 Ezekiel Elliott and Miles Sanders average in 2025?▾

Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Miles Sanders averaged 5.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are Ezekiel Elliott and Miles Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Miles Sanders (DAL) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ezekiel Elliott or Miles Sanders a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Ezekiel Elliott outscored Miles Sanders by 1.5 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.