Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ezekiel Elliott vs Najee HarrisWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Najee Harris is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.8 PPG to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Najee Harris is the better fantasy play this season.

Najee Harris is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.8 PPG and 1,235 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 Najee Harris 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#99PPG LEADER

Najee Harris

PPG

12.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,010

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

225

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Ezekiel Elliott

Najee Harris

Head to Head

7.2 PPG12.8 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Najee Harris: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Ezekiel Elliott is producing at 33% of elite pace and Najee Harris at 58%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Najee Harris: The Full Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott and Najee Harris 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 Najee Harris posted 12.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 5.6-PPG gap gives Najee Harris 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; Najee Harris posted 1010 and 6. 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 Najee Harris rests in Week 9. 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 Najee Harris 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. Najee Harris (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Najee Harris outscored Ezekiel Elliott by a projected 95 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Najee Harris played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 14. That durability gap means Najee Harris contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Najee Harris scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott vs Najee Harris: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ezekiel Elliott	Najee Harris
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.2	12.8
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	101	218
Rushing Yards	452	1,010
Rush Yds/Game	32.3	59.4
Rushing TDs	3	6
Receptions	18	30
Receiving Yards	128	225
Targets	0	0
Total TDs	3	7
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 9

Summary

Najee Harris outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 5.6 PPG in 2025 (12.8 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 Najee Harris in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Najee Harris has the edge at 12.8 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 Najee Harris average in 2025?▾

Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Najee Harris averaged 12.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.6 points per game.

When are Ezekiel Elliott and Najee Harris's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Ezekiel Elliott or Najee Harris a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Najee Harris outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 5.6 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.