Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jaylen Warren vs Kenneth Walker IIIWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Kenneth Walker III's 10.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaylen Warren has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.9-PPG advantage is real (12.3 to 10.4), and Jaylen Warren's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Kenneth Walker III 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.

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RBPittsburgh Steelers#18PPG LEADER

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

RBSeattle Seahawks#29

Kenneth Walker III

PPG

10.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,027

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jaylen Warren

Kenneth Walker III

Head to Head

12.3 PPG10.4 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 at the position). Kenneth Walker III: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #29 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jaylen Warren is producing at 56% of elite pace and Kenneth Walker III at 47%. That ranking gap means Jaylen Warren carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jaylen Warren vs Kenneth Walker III: The Full Breakdown

Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Walker III are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG across 16 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Kenneth Walker III posted 10.4 PPG in 17 appearances for the Seattle Seahawks.

A 1.9-PPG gap gives Jaylen Warren 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.

Jaylen Warren is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 40 targets into 333 yards, while Kenneth Walker III profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1027 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jaylen Warren carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Jaylen Warren sits Week 9 while Kenneth Walker III 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

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: Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Kenneth Walker III (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Warren outscored Kenneth Walker III by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Walker III played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jaylen Warren's 16. That durability gap means Kenneth Walker III contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Warren scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jaylen Warren caught 40 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaylen Warren vs Kenneth Walker III: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaylen Warren	Kenneth Walker III
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	10.4
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	197	177
Rushing Yards	958	1,027
Rush Yds/Game	59.9	60.4
Rushing TDs	6	5
Receptions	40	31
Receiving Yards	333	282
Targets	45	36
Total TDs	8	5
Age	27	25
Experience	3 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 11

Summary

Jaylen Warren outscored Kenneth Walker III by 1.9 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 10.4). 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 Jaylen Warren or Kenneth Walker III in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Warren has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Kenneth Walker III's 10.4 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 Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Walker III average in 2025?▾

Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Kenneth Walker III averaged 10.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.9 points per game.

When are Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Walker III's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jaylen Warren (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Kenneth Walker III (SEA) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jaylen Warren or Kenneth Walker III a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jaylen Warren outscored Kenneth Walker III by 1.9 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.