Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Khalil Herbert vs Travis EtienneWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Etienne is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.9 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Travis Etienne is the better fantasy play this season.

Travis Etienne is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 13.9 PPG and 1,399 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 Travis Etienne 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

RBJacksonville Jaguars#13PPG LEADER

Travis Etienne

PPG

13.9

Games

Rush Yds

1,107

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Khalil Herbert

Travis Etienne

Head to Head

5.8 PPG13.9 PPG

12 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Khalil Herbert: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Travis Etienne: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #13 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Khalil Herbert is producing at 26% of elite pace and Travis Etienne at 63%. That ranking gap means Travis Etienne carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Khalil Herbert vs Travis Etienne: The Full Breakdown

Travis Etienne and Khalil Herbert are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Jacksonville Jaguars running back averaged 13.9 PPG in 2025, a full 8.1 points per game ahead of Khalil Herbert's 5.8 with the Cincinnati Bengals. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 8.1-PPG gap gives Travis Etienne 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; Travis Etienne posted 1107 and 7. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Khalil Herbert has his bye in Week 12, and Travis Etienne rests in Week 7. 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 Travis Etienne 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. Travis Etienne (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Travis Etienne outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Etienne played 17 games in 2025 compared to Khalil Herbert's 12. That durability gap means Travis Etienne contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Travis Etienne scored 13 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Travis Etienne caught 36 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 Travis Etienne: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Khalil Herbert	Travis Etienne
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.8	13.9
Games Played	12	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	70	236
Rushing Yards	248	1,107
Rush Yds/Game	20.7	65.1
Rushing TDs	2	7
Receptions	12	36
Receiving Yards	85	292
Targets	0	52
Total TDs	2	13
Age	-	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 12	Week 7

Summary

Travis Etienne outscored Khalil Herbert by 8.1 PPG in 2025 (13.9 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 Travis Etienne in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Etienne has the edge at 13.9 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 Travis Etienne average in 2025?▾

Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Travis Etienne averaged 13.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are Khalil Herbert and Travis Etienne's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Khalil Herbert (CIN) has a bye in Week 12, and Travis Etienne (JAX) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Khalil Herbert or Travis Etienne a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Travis Etienne outscored Khalil Herbert by 8.1 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.