Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Najee Harris vs Samaje PerineWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Najee Harris is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.8 PPG to Samaje Perine's 6.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Najee Harris is the better fantasy play this season.

Najee Harris is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.8 PPG and 1,235 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Samaje Perine (6.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Najee Harris as the starter and Samaje Perine as depth.

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

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RBPittsburgh Steelers#99PPG LEADER

Najee Harris

PPG

12.8

Games

Rush Yds

1,010

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

225

Bye

Week 9

RBKansas City Chiefs#99

Samaje Perine

PPG

6.5

Games

Rush Yds

285

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

182

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Najee Harris

Samaje Perine

Head to Head

12.8 PPG6.5 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Najee Harris: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Samaje Perine: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Najee Harris is producing at 58% of elite pace and Samaje Perine at 30%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Najee Harris vs Samaje Perine: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Najee Harris put up 12.8 fantasy points per game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, while Samaje Perine managed 6.5 across 15 games with the Kansas City Chiefs. A 6.3-point weekly edge is substantial at the running back position.

Najee Harris carries a 6.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Najee Harris ran for 1010 yards and 6 touchdowns; Samaje Perine posted 285 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: Najee Harris sits Week 9 while Samaje Perine is off Week 6. 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 Najee Harris at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Samaje Perine is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Najee Harris (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Samaje Perine (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Najee Harris outscored Samaje Perine by a projected 107 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Najee Harris played 17 games in 2025 compared to Samaje Perine's 15. That durability gap means Najee Harris contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Najee Harris scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Najee Harris vs Samaje Perine: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Najee Harris	Samaje Perine
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.8	6.5
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	218	98
Rushing Yards	1,010	285
Rush Yds/Game	59.4	19.0
Rushing TDs	6	2
Receptions	30	24
Receiving Yards	225	182
Targets	0	0
Total TDs	7	3
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Najee Harris holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.8 points per game. Samaje Perine averaged 6.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Najee Harris or Samaje Perine in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Najee Harris has the edge at 12.8 PPG compared to Samaje Perine's 6.5 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 Najee Harris and Samaje Perine average in 2025?▾

Najee Harris averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Samaje Perine averaged 6.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.3 points per game.

When are Najee Harris and Samaje Perine's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Najee Harris (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Samaje Perine (KC) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Najee Harris or Samaje Perine a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Najee Harris outscored Samaje Perine by 6.3 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.