Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joe Mixon vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Trey McBride's 14.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Joe Mixon (16.5 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Trey McBride (14.9 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.

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RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

TEArizona Cardinals#1

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Joe Mixon

Trey McBride

Head to Head

16.5 PPG14.9 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 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 1 (Elite) TE in most league formats.

Joe Mixon vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Joe Mixon (RB, Houston Texans) against Trey McBride (TE, Arizona Cardinals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while Trey McBride posted 14.9 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.

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: Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Trey McBride by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joe Mixon's 15. That durability gap means Trey McBride 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.
•Trey McBride caught 126 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Both players share a Week 14 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Joe Mixon vs Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joe Mixon	Trey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.5	14.9
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	248	253
Rushing Yards	1,165	0
Rush Yds/Game	77.7	0.0
Rushing TDs	11	0
Receptions	32	126
Receiving Yards	240	1,239
Targets	0	169
Total TDs	12	11
Age	-	26
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 14

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Joe Mixon at 16.5 PPG, 1.6 points per game above Trey McBride's 14.9. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Joe Mixon or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Trey McBride's 14.9 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 Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

Do Joe Mixon and Trey McBride share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Joe Mixon and Trey McBride share a Week 14 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.