Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ezekiel Elliott vs Zach CharbonnetWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zach Charbonnet is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.7 PPG to Ezekiel Elliott's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zach Charbonnet is the better fantasy play this season.

Zach Charbonnet has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.5-PPG advantage is real (10.7 to 7.2), and Zach Charbonnet's 12 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#28PPG LEADER

Zach Charbonnet

PPG

10.7

Games

Rush Yds

730

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

144

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Ezekiel Elliott

Zach Charbonnet

Head to Head

7.2 PPG10.7 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Ezekiel Elliott: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Zach Charbonnet: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #28 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Ezekiel Elliott is producing at 33% of elite pace and Zach Charbonnet at 49%. That ranking gap means Zach Charbonnet carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Zach Charbonnet: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys) finished the 2025 season averaging 7.2 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Zach Charbonnet (Seattle Seahawks) came in at 10.7 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Zach Charbonnet carries a 3.5-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; Zach Charbonnet posted 730 and 12. 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 Zach Charbonnet is off Week 11. 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

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

Did You Know?

•Zach Charbonnet outscored Ezekiel Elliott by a projected 59 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zach Charbonnet played 16 games in 2025 compared to Ezekiel Elliott's 14. That durability gap means Zach Charbonnet contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zach Charbonnet scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ezekiel Elliott vs Zach Charbonnet: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ezekiel Elliott	Zach Charbonnet
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.2	10.7
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	101	171
Rushing Yards	452	730
Rush Yds/Game	32.3	45.6
Rushing TDs	3	12
Receptions	18	20
Receiving Yards	128	144
Targets	0	24
Total TDs	3	12
Age	-	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Zach Charbonnet holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 10.7 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 Zach Charbonnet in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Charbonnet has the edge at 10.7 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 Zach Charbonnet average in 2025?▾

Ezekiel Elliott averaged 7.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Zach Charbonnet averaged 10.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

When are Ezekiel Elliott and Zach Charbonnet's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Ezekiel Elliott or Zach Charbonnet a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Zach Charbonnet outscored Ezekiel Elliott by 3.5 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.