Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jonathan Taylor vs Raheim SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.0 PPG to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Jonathan Taylor is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.0 PPG and 1,963 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Raheim Sanders (4.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jonathan Taylor as the starter and Raheim Sanders as depth.

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

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RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 13

RBCleveland Browns#99

Raheim Sanders

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Jonathan Taylor

Raheim Sanders

Head to Head

20.0 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 at the position). Raheim Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jonathan Taylor is producing at 91% of elite pace and Raheim Sanders at 21%. That ranking gap means Jonathan Taylor carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jonathan Taylor vs Raheim Sanders: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts) averaged 20.0 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Raheim Sanders (Cleveland Browns, 4.7 PPG) by 15.3 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 15.3-PPG gap gives Jonathan Taylor 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.

Jonathan Taylor is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 46 targets into 378 yards, while Raheim Sanders profiles as a more traditional rusher with 92 rushing yards and 1 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jonathan Taylor carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

One scheduling note: Jonathan Taylor is off Week 13 and Raheim Sanders Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jonathan Taylor at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Raheim Sanders is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Raheim Sanders (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Raheim Sanders by a projected 260 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor played 17 games in 2025 compared to Raheim Sanders's 4. That durability gap means Jonathan Taylor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jonathan Taylor caught 46 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Raheim Sanders is 4 years younger than Jonathan Taylor (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jonathan Taylor vs Raheim Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jonathan Taylor	Raheim Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.0	4.7
Games Played	17	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	340	19
Rushing Yards	1,585	92
Rush Yds/Game	93.2	23.0
Rushing TDs	18	1
Receptions	46	3
Receiving Yards	378	21
Targets	55	4
Total TDs	20	1
Age	27	23
Experience	5 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 10

Summary

Jonathan Taylor outscored Raheim Sanders by 15.3 PPG in 2025 (20.0 to 4.7). 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 Jonathan Taylor or Raheim Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 PPG compared to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 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 Jonathan Taylor and Raheim Sanders average in 2025?▾

Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 15.3 points per game.

When are Jonathan Taylor and Raheim Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor (IND) has a bye in Week 13, and Raheim Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jonathan Taylor or Raheim Sanders a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor outscored Raheim Sanders by 15.3 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.