Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Khalil Herbert vs RJ HarveyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

RJ Harvey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.8 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

RJ Harvey is the better fantasy play this season.

RJ Harvey is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 10.8 PPG and 896 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Khalil Herbert (5.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster RJ Harvey as the starter and Khalil Herbert as depth.

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

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RBCincinnati Bengals#99

Khalil Herbert

PPG

5.8

Games

Rush Yds

248

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

RBDenver Broncos#27PPG LEADER

RJ Harvey

PPG

10.8

Games

Rush Yds

540

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

356

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Khalil Herbert

RJ Harvey

Head to Head

5.8 PPG10.8 PPG

12 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Khalil Herbert: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). RJ Harvey: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #27 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Khalil Herbert is producing at 26% of elite pace and RJ Harvey at 49%. That ranking gap means RJ Harvey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Khalil Herbert vs RJ Harvey: The Full Breakdown

Khalil Herbert and RJ Harvey 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 RJ Harvey posted 10.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Denver Broncos.

A 5.0-PPG gap gives RJ Harvey 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.

RJ Harvey is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 47 targets into 356 yards, while Khalil Herbert profiles as a more traditional rusher with 248 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats RJ Harvey carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Khalil Herbert has his bye in Week 12, and RJ Harvey rests in Week 10. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire RJ Harvey at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Khalil Herbert is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Khalil Herbert (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. RJ Harvey (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•RJ Harvey outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 85 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•RJ Harvey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Khalil Herbert's 12. That durability gap means RJ Harvey contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•RJ Harvey scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•RJ Harvey caught 47 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Khalil Herbert vs RJ Harvey: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Khalil Herbert	RJ Harvey
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.8	10.8
Games Played	12	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	70	184
Rushing Yards	248	540
Rush Yds/Game	20.7	31.8
Rushing TDs	2	7
Receptions	12	47
Receiving Yards	85	356
Targets	0	58
Total TDs	2	12
Age	-	25
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 10

Summary

RJ Harvey outscored Khalil Herbert by 5.0 PPG in 2025 (10.8 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 RJ Harvey in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, RJ Harvey has the edge at 10.8 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 RJ Harvey average in 2025?▾

Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. RJ Harvey averaged 10.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.0 points per game.

When are Khalil Herbert and RJ Harvey's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Khalil Herbert (CIN) has a bye in Week 12, and RJ Harvey (DEN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Khalil Herbert or RJ Harvey a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

RJ Harvey outscored Khalil Herbert by 5.0 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.