Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Travis KelceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Travis Kelce's 9.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Conner is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, James Conner (11.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Travis Kelce (9.1 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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 James Conner and Travis Kelce in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

TEKansas City Chiefs#10

Travis Kelce

PPG

9.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

851

Rec TDs

Targets

108

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Travis Kelce

Head to Head

11.0 PPG9.1 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Travis Kelce: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #10 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 5 (Deep League) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

James Conner vs Travis Kelce: The Full Breakdown

Comparing James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) against Travis Kelce (TE, Kansas City Chiefs) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG in 2025 over 14 games, while Travis Kelce posted 9.1 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

James Conner has his bye in Week 11, Travis Kelce in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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: James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Travis Kelce (age 36) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Travis Kelce by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Kelce played 17 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Travis Kelce contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•James Conner scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Travis Kelce caught 76 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

James Conner vs Travis Kelce: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Travis Kelce
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	9.1
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	155
Rushing Yards	752	1
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	0.1
Rushing TDs	5	0
Receptions	28	76
Receiving Yards	218	851
Targets	0	108
Total TDs	6	5
Age	-	36
Experience	-	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, James Conner holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.0 points per game. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on James Conner vs Travis Kelce

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 James Conner vs Travis Kelce

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 James Conner or Travis Kelce in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Travis Kelce's 9.1 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 James Conner and Travis Kelce average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Travis Kelce averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.9 points per game.

When are James Conner and Travis Kelce's bye weeks in 2026?▾

James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11, and Travis Kelce (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.