Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Khalil Herbert vs Ray DavisWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ray Davis is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.8 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ray Davis is the better fantasy play this season.

Ray Davis has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.0-PPG advantage is real (7.8 to 5.8), and Ray Davis's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Khalil Herbert is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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RBCincinnati Bengals#99

Khalil Herbert

PPG

5.8

Games

Rush Yds

248

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

RBBuffalo Bills#99PPG LEADER

Ray Davis

PPG

7.8

Games

Rush Yds

425

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

168

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Khalil Herbert

Ray Davis

Head to Head

5.8 PPG7.8 PPG

12 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Khalil Herbert: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Ray Davis: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Khalil Herbert is producing at 26% of elite pace and Ray Davis at 35%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Khalil Herbert vs Ray Davis: The Full Breakdown

Khalil Herbert and Ray Davis are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 PPG across 12 games with the Cincinnati Bengals, while Ray Davis posted 7.8 PPG in 15 appearances for the Buffalo Bills.

A 2.0-PPG gap gives Ray Davis 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. Khalil Herbert ran for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns; Ray Davis posted 425 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 12 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

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: Khalil Herbert (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Ray Davis (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Ray Davis outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 34 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ray Davis played 15 games in 2025 compared to Khalil Herbert's 12. That durability gap means Ray Davis contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ray Davis scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Both players share a Week 12 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Khalil Herbert vs Ray Davis: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Khalil Herbert	Ray Davis
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.8	7.8
Games Played	12	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	70	117
Rushing Yards	248	425
Rush Yds/Game	20.7	28.3
Rushing TDs	2	3
Receptions	12	22
Receiving Yards	85	168
Targets	0	0
Total TDs	2	4
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 12

Summary

Ray Davis outscored Khalil Herbert by 2.0 PPG in 2025 (7.8 to 5.8). 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 Khalil Herbert or Ray Davis in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ray Davis has the edge at 7.8 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 Khalil Herbert and Ray Davis average in 2025?▾

Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Ray Davis averaged 7.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.0 points per game.

Do Khalil Herbert and Ray Davis share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Khalil Herbert and Ray Davis share a Week 12 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Khalil Herbert or Ray Davis a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Ray Davis outscored Khalil Herbert by 2.0 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.