Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Joe Mixon vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to Zay Flowers's 11.8 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. Zay Flowers (11.8 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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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

WRBaltimore Ravens#15

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Joe Mixon

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

16.5 PPG11.8 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 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 3 (Flex/Starter) WR in most league formats.

Joe Mixon vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Joe Mixon (RB, Houston Texans) against Zay Flowers (WR, Baltimore Ravens) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while Zay Flowers posted 11.8 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.

Joe Mixon has his bye in Week 14, Zay Flowers in Week 13. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Joe Mixon is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Zay Flowers is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Zay Flowers by a projected 80 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joe Mixon's 15. That durability gap means Zay Flowers 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.
•Zay Flowers caught 86 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 Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Joe Mixon	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.5	11.8
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	248	201
Rushing Yards	1,165	62
Rush Yds/Game	77.7	3.6
Rushing TDs	11	1
Receptions	32	86
Receiving Yards	240	1,211
Targets	0	118
Total TDs	12	6
Age	-	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 13

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Joe Mixon at 16.5 PPG, 4.7 points per game above Zay Flowers's 11.8. 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 Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Zay Flowers's 11.8 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 Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.7 points per game.

When are Joe Mixon and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.