Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Nick Chubb vs Travis EtienneWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Etienne is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.9 PPG to Nick Chubb's 5.5 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. Nick Chubb (5.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Travis Etienne as the starter and Nick Chubb as depth.

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

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RBHouston Texans#59

Nick Chubb

PPG

5.5

Games

Rush Yds

506

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 8

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

Nick Chubb

Travis Etienne

Head to Head

5.5 PPG13.9 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Nick Chubb: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #59 at the position). Travis Etienne: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #13 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Nick Chubb is producing at 25% 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.

Nick Chubb vs Travis Etienne: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Travis Etienne put up 13.9 fantasy points per game for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025, while Nick Chubb managed 5.5 across 15 games with the Houston Texans. A 8.4-point weekly edge is substantial at the running back position.

Travis Etienne carries a 8.4-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. Nick Chubb ran for 506 yards and 3 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Nick Chubb sits Week 8 while Travis Etienne is off Week 7. 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 Travis Etienne at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Nick Chubb is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Nick Chubb (age 30, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Travis Etienne (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Travis Etienne outscored Nick Chubb by a projected 143 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Etienne played 17 games in 2025 compared to Nick Chubb's 15. 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

Nick Chubb vs Travis Etienne: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Nick Chubb	Travis Etienne
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.5	13.9
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	83	236
Rushing Yards	506	1,107
Rush Yds/Game	33.7	65.1
Rushing TDs	3	7
Receptions	13	36
Receiving Yards	67	292
Targets	20	52
Total TDs	3	13
Age	30	27
Experience	7 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Travis Etienne holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 13.9 points per game. Nick Chubb averaged 5.5 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 Nick Chubb or Travis Etienne in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Etienne has the edge at 13.9 PPG compared to Nick Chubb's 5.5 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 Nick Chubb and Travis Etienne average in 2025?▾

Nick Chubb averaged 5.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Travis Etienne averaged 13.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.4 points per game.

When are Nick Chubb and Travis Etienne's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Nick Chubb (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Travis Etienne (JAX) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Nick Chubb or Travis Etienne a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Travis Etienne outscored Nick Chubb by 8.4 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.