Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Dameon Pierce vs Jaylen WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Dameon Pierce's 6.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy play this season.

Jaylen Warren is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.3 PPG and 1,291 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Dameon Pierce (6.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jaylen Warren as the starter and Dameon Pierce 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#99

Dameon Pierce

PPG

6.4

Games

Rush Yds

342

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

108

Bye

Week 14

RBPittsburgh Steelers#18PPG LEADER

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Dameon Pierce

Jaylen Warren

Head to Head

6.4 PPG12.3 PPG

13 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Dameon Pierce: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Dameon Pierce is producing at 29% of elite pace and Jaylen Warren at 56%. That ranking gap means Jaylen Warren carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dameon Pierce vs Jaylen Warren: The Full Breakdown

Dameon Pierce and Jaylen Warren are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Dameon Pierce averaged 6.4 PPG across 13 games with the Houston Texans, while Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 PPG in 16 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 5.9-PPG gap gives Jaylen Warren 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.

Jaylen Warren is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 40 targets into 333 yards, while Dameon Pierce profiles as a more traditional rusher with 342 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jaylen Warren carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Dameon Pierce has his bye in Week 14, and Jaylen Warren rests in Week 9. 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 Jaylen Warren at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Dameon Pierce is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Dameon Pierce (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Warren outscored Dameon Pierce by a projected 100 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Warren played 16 games in 2025 compared to Dameon Pierce's 13. That durability gap means Jaylen Warren contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Warren scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jaylen Warren caught 40 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dameon Pierce vs Jaylen Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dameon Pierce	Jaylen Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.4	12.3
Games Played	13	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	83	197
Rushing Yards	342	958
Rush Yds/Game	26.3	59.9
Rushing TDs	2	6
Receptions	15	40
Receiving Yards	108	333
Targets	0	45
Total TDs	2	8
Age	-	27
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 9

Summary

Jaylen Warren outscored Dameon Pierce by 5.9 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 6.4). 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 Dameon Pierce or Jaylen Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Warren has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Dameon Pierce's 6.4 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 Dameon Pierce and Jaylen Warren average in 2025?▾

Dameon Pierce averaged 6.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.9 points per game.

When are Dameon Pierce and Jaylen Warren's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dameon Pierce (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Jaylen Warren (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dameon Pierce or Jaylen Warren a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jaylen Warren outscored Dameon Pierce by 5.9 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.