Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

RJ Harvey vs Samaje PerineWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

RJ Harvey is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.8 PPG to Samaje Perine's 6.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

RJ Harvey is the better fantasy play this season.

RJ Harvey is the better play on a neutral week. 10.8 PPG with 896 yards gives a reliable baseline. Samaje Perine at 6.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft RJ Harvey higher, but do not fade Samaje Perine entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBDenver Broncos#27PPG LEADER

RJ Harvey

PPG

10.8

Games

Rush Yds

540

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

356

Bye

Week 10

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

RJ Harvey

Samaje Perine

Head to Head

10.8 PPG6.5 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

RJ Harvey: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #27 at the position). Samaje Perine: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, RJ Harvey is producing at 49% of elite pace and Samaje Perine at 30%. That ranking gap means RJ Harvey carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

RJ Harvey vs Samaje Perine: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between RJ Harvey and Samaje Perine for your lineup, you are not alone. RJ Harvey finished the 2025 season at 10.8 PPG for the Denver Broncos (17 games), and Samaje Perine averaged 6.5 for the Kansas City Chiefs (15 games).

That 4.3-point weekly advantage for RJ Harvey is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

RJ Harvey is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 47 targets into 356 yards, while Samaje Perine profiles as a more traditional rusher with 285 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.

RJ Harvey has his bye in Week 10, and Samaje Perine rests in Week 6. 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

RJ Harvey is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Samaje Perine is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: RJ Harvey (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Samaje Perine (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•RJ Harvey outscored Samaje Perine by a projected 73 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•RJ Harvey played 17 games in 2025 compared to Samaje Perine's 15. 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

RJ Harvey vs Samaje Perine: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	RJ Harvey	Samaje Perine
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.8	6.5
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	184	98
Rushing Yards	540	285
Rush Yds/Game	31.8	19.0
Rushing TDs	7	2
Receptions	47	24
Receiving Yards	356	182
Targets	58	0
Total TDs	12	3
Age	25	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor RJ Harvey at 10.8 PPG, 4.3 points per game above Samaje Perine's 6.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start RJ Harvey or Samaje Perine in fantasy football?▾

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

RJ Harvey averaged 10.8 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 4.3 points per game.

When are RJ Harvey and Samaje Perine's bye weeks in 2026?▾

RJ Harvey (DEN) has a bye in Week 10, and Samaje Perine (KC) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is RJ Harvey or Samaje Perine a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

RJ Harvey outscored Samaje Perine by 4.3 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.