Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ezekiel Elliott vs Ty JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ezekiel Elliott is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.2 PPG to Ty Johnson's 5.2 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 2.0-PPG advantage is real (7.2 to 5.2), and Ezekiel Elliott's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Ty Johnson 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#99PPG LEADER

Ezekiel Elliott

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

452

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

128

Bye

Week 7

RBBuffalo Bills#99

Ty Johnson

PPG

5.2

Games

Rush Yds

200

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

263

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Ezekiel Elliott

Ty Johnson

Head to Head

7.2 PPG5.2 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Ty Johnson: 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 Ty Johnson at 24%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Ty Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott and Ty Johnson 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 Ty Johnson posted 5.2 PPG in 17 appearances for the Buffalo Bills.

A 2.0-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; Ty Johnson posted 200 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Ezekiel Elliott sits Week 7 while Ty Johnson is off Week 12. 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

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. Ty Johnson (age 28, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Ezekiel Elliott outscored Ty Johnson by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ty Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 14. That durability gap means Ty Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ty Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott vs Ty Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ezekiel Elliott	Ty Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.2	5.2
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	101	88
Rushing Yards	452	200
Rush Yds/Game	32.3	11.8
Rushing TDs	3	3
Receptions	18	24
Receiving Yards	128	263
Targets	0	33
Total TDs	3	5
Age	-	28
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 12

Summary

Ezekiel Elliott outscored Ty Johnson by 2.0 PPG in 2025 (7.2 to 5.2). 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 Ty Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ezekiel Elliott has the edge at 7.2 PPG compared to Ty Johnson's 5.2 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 Ty Johnson average in 2025?▾

Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Ty Johnson averaged 5.2 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

When are Ezekiel Elliott and Ty Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) has a bye in Week 7, and Ty Johnson (BUF) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ezekiel Elliott or Ty Johnson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Ezekiel Elliott outscored Ty Johnson by 2.0 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.