Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Kareem Hunt vs Khalil HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kareem Hunt is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kareem Hunt is the better fantasy play this season.

Kareem Hunt is the better play on a neutral week. 8.0 PPG with 754 yards gives a reliable baseline. Khalil Herbert at 5.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Kareem Hunt higher, but do not fade Khalil Herbert entirely.

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

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RBKansas City Chiefs#39PPG LEADER

Kareem Hunt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

611

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

143

Bye

Week 5

RBCincinnati Bengals#99

Khalil Herbert

PPG

5.8

Games

Rush Yds

248

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Kareem Hunt

Khalil Herbert

Head to Head

8.0 PPG5.8 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Kareem Hunt: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #39 at the position). Khalil Herbert: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Kareem Hunt is producing at 36% of elite pace and Khalil Herbert at 26%. That ranking gap means Kareem Hunt carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Kareem Hunt vs Khalil Herbert: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Kareem Hunt and Khalil Herbert is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Kansas City Chiefs running back put up 8.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Khalil Herbert of the Cincinnati Bengals averaged 5.8 in 12. A 2.2-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 2.2 points favors Kareem Hunt, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Kareem Hunt ran for 611 yards and 8 touchdowns; Khalil Herbert posted 248 and 2. 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: Kareem Hunt sits Week 5 while Khalil Herbert is off Week 12. 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

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: Kareem Hunt (age 30, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Khalil Herbert (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Kareem Hunt outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kareem Hunt played 17 games in 2025 compared to Khalil Herbert's 12. That durability gap means Kareem Hunt contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kareem Hunt scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Kareem Hunt vs Khalil Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Kareem Hunt	Khalil Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	5.8
Games Played	17	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	70
Rushing Yards	611	248
Rush Yds/Game	35.9	20.7
Rushing TDs	8	2
Receptions	18	12
Receiving Yards	143	85
Targets	25	0
Total TDs	9	2
Age	30	-
Experience	8 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 12

Summary

8.0 PPG for Kareem Hunt versus 5.8 for Khalil Herbert in 2025. The baseline favors Kareem Hunt, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Kareem Hunt or Khalil Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kareem Hunt has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 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 Kareem Hunt and Khalil Herbert average in 2025?▾

Kareem Hunt averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Kareem Hunt and Khalil Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Kareem Hunt (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Khalil Herbert (CIN) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Kareem Hunt or Khalil Herbert a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kareem Hunt outscored Khalil Herbert by 2.2 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.