Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joe Mixon vs Quinshon JudkinsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Quinshon Judkins's 11.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Joe Mixon is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.5 PPG and 1,405 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Quinshon Judkins (11.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Joe Mixon as the starter and Quinshon Judkins as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Joe Mixon and Quinshon Judkins in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

RBCleveland Browns#23

Quinshon Judkins

PPG

11.2

Games

Rush Yds

827

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

171

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Joe Mixon

Quinshon Judkins

Head to Head

16.5 PPG11.2 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Quinshon Judkins: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #23 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Joe Mixon is producing at 75% of elite pace and Quinshon Judkins at 51%. That ranking gap means Quinshon Judkins carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joe Mixon vs Quinshon Judkins: The Full Breakdown

Joe Mixon and Quinshon Judkins are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG across 15 games with the Houston Texans, while Quinshon Judkins posted 11.2 PPG in 14 appearances for the Cleveland Browns.

A 5.3-PPG gap gives Joe Mixon 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. Joe Mixon ran for 1165 yards and 11 touchdowns; Quinshon Judkins posted 827 and 7. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Joe Mixon has his bye in Week 14, and Quinshon Judkins rests in Week 11. 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 Joe Mixon at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Quinshon Judkins is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Quinshon Judkins (age 22) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Quinshon Judkins by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to Quinshon Judkins's 14. That durability gap means Joe Mixon contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Joe Mixon caught 32 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joe Mixon vs Quinshon Judkins: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joe Mixon	Quinshon Judkins
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.5	11.2
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	248	157
Rushing Yards	1,165	827
Rush Yds/Game	77.7	59.1
Rushing TDs	11	7
Receptions	32	26
Receiving Yards	240	171
Targets	0	36
Total TDs	12	7
Age	-	22
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

Joe Mixon outscored Quinshon Judkins by 5.3 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 11.2). 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Joe Mixon vs Quinshon Judkins

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 Joe Mixon vs Quinshon Judkins

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 Joe Mixon or Quinshon Judkins in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Quinshon Judkins's 11.2 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 Joe Mixon and Quinshon Judkins average in 2025?▾

Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Quinshon Judkins averaged 11.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Joe Mixon and Quinshon Judkins's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Quinshon Judkins (CLE) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joe Mixon or Quinshon Judkins a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored Quinshon Judkins by 5.3 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.