Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Josh Jacobs vs Raheim SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.6 PPG to Raheim Sanders's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy play this season.

Josh Jacobs is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.6 PPG and 1,211 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 Josh Jacobs 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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RBGreen Bay Packers#8PPG LEADER

Josh Jacobs

PPG

14.6

Games

Rush Yds

929

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

282

Bye

Week 11

RBCleveland Browns#99

Raheim Sanders

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Josh Jacobs

Raheim Sanders

Head to Head

14.6 PPG4.7 PPG

15 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Jacobs: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #8 at the position). Raheim Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Josh Jacobs is producing at 66% of elite pace and Raheim Sanders at 21%. That ranking gap means Josh Jacobs carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Josh Jacobs vs Raheim Sanders: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Josh Jacobs put up 14.6 fantasy points per game for the Green Bay Packers in 2025, while Raheim Sanders managed 4.7 across 4 games with the Cleveland Browns. A 9.9-point weekly edge is substantial at the running back position.

A 9.9-PPG gap gives Josh Jacobs 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. Josh Jacobs ran for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns; Raheim Sanders posted 92 and 1. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Josh Jacobs sits Week 11 while Raheim Sanders is off Week 10. 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

If you can acquire Josh Jacobs 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: Josh Jacobs (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Raheim Sanders (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Josh Jacobs outscored Raheim Sanders by a projected 168 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Josh Jacobs played 15 games in 2025 compared to Raheim Sanders's 4. That durability gap means Josh Jacobs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Josh Jacobs scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Josh Jacobs caught 36 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Raheim Sanders is 5 years younger than Josh Jacobs (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Jacobs vs Raheim Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Josh Jacobs	Raheim Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	14.6	4.7
Games Played	15	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	219	19
Rushing Yards	929	92
Rush Yds/Game	61.9	23.0
Rushing TDs	13	1
Receptions	36	3
Receiving Yards	282	21
Targets	44	4
Total TDs	14	1
Age	28	23
Experience	6 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 10

Summary

Josh Jacobs outscored Raheim Sanders by 9.9 PPG in 2025 (14.6 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 Josh Jacobs or Raheim Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Jacobs has the edge at 14.6 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 Josh Jacobs and Raheim Sanders average in 2025?▾

Josh Jacobs averaged 14.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Raheim Sanders averaged 4.7 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 9.9 points per game.

When are Josh Jacobs and Raheim Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Josh Jacobs (GB) has a bye in Week 11, and Raheim Sanders (CLE) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Josh Jacobs or Raheim Sanders a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Josh Jacobs outscored Raheim Sanders by 9.9 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.