Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Rhamondre Stevenson vs Saquon BarkleyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Saquon Barkley is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.4 PPG to Rhamondre Stevenson's 11.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Saquon Barkley is the better fantasy play this season.

Saquon Barkley has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (13.4 to 11.6), and Saquon Barkley's 9 touchdowns show scoring upside. Rhamondre Stevenson is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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RBNew England Patriots#22

Rhamondre Stevenson

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

603

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

345

Bye

Week 11

RBPhiladelphia Eagles#14PPG LEADER

Saquon Barkley

PPG

13.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,140

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

273

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Rhamondre Stevenson

Saquon Barkley

Head to Head

11.6 PPG13.4 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Rhamondre Stevenson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #22 at the position). Saquon Barkley: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Rhamondre Stevenson is producing at 53% of elite pace and Saquon Barkley at 61%. That ranking gap means Saquon Barkley carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Rhamondre Stevenson vs Saquon Barkley: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots) finished the 2025 season averaging 11.6 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) came in at 13.4 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Saquon Barkley carries a 1.8-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. Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 603 yards and 7 touchdowns; Saquon Barkley posted 1140 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: Rhamondre Stevenson sits Week 11 while Saquon Barkley is off Week 10. 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

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: Rhamondre Stevenson (age 28, 4 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Saquon Barkley (age 29, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Saquon Barkley outscored Rhamondre Stevenson by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Saquon Barkley played 16 games in 2025 compared to Rhamondre Stevenson's 14. That durability gap means Saquon Barkley contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rhamondre Stevenson scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Saquon Barkley caught 37 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Rhamondre Stevenson vs Saquon Barkley: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Rhamondre Stevenson	Saquon Barkley
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	13.4
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	162	214
Rushing Yards	603	1,140
Rush Yds/Game	43.1	71.3
Rushing TDs	7	7
Receptions	32	37
Receiving Yards	345	273
Targets	37	50
Total TDs	9	9
Age	28	29
Experience	4 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Saquon Barkley holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 13.4 points per game. Rhamondre Stevenson averaged 11.6 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 Rhamondre Stevenson or Saquon Barkley in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Saquon Barkley has the edge at 13.4 PPG compared to Rhamondre Stevenson's 11.6 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 Rhamondre Stevenson and Saquon Barkley average in 2025?▾

Rhamondre Stevenson averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Saquon Barkley averaged 13.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Rhamondre Stevenson and Saquon Barkley's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) has a bye in Week 11, and Saquon Barkley (PHI) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Rhamondre Stevenson or Saquon Barkley a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Saquon Barkley outscored Rhamondre Stevenson by 1.8 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.