Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Rashee RiceWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 9.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.5 PPG and 591 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Deebo Samuel Sr. (9.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Rashee Rice as the starter and Deebo Samuel Sr. as depth.

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

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WRWashington Commanders#36

Deebo Samuel Sr.

PPG

9.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

727

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Deebo Samuel Sr.

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

9.5 PPG15.5 PPG

16 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Deebo Samuel Sr.: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #36 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Deebo Samuel Sr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Rashee Rice: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. Rashee Rice put up 15.5 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while Deebo Samuel Sr. managed 9.5 across 16 games with the Washington Commanders. A 6.0-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

Rashee Rice carries a 6.0-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 are workload receivers with similar target shares. Deebo Samuel Sr. turned 99 targets into 727 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Deebo Samuel Sr. sits Week 7 while Rashee Rice is off Week 5. 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 Rashee Rice at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Deebo Samuel Sr. is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Deebo Samuel Sr. (age 30) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. by a projected 102 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Deebo Samuel Sr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Deebo Samuel Sr. saw 99 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Rashee Rice is 4 years younger than Deebo Samuel Sr. (26 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Deebo Samuel Sr. vs Rashee Rice: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Deebo Samuel Sr.	Rashee Rice
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.5	15.5
Games Played	16	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	152	124
Receptions	72	53
Rec/Game	4.5	6.6
Receiving Yards	727	571
Rec Yds/Game	45.4	71.4
Receiving TDs	5	5
Targets	99	78
Target Share/Game	6.2	9.8
Age	30	26
Experience	6 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Rashee Rice holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.5 points per game. Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 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 Deebo Samuel Sr. or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Deebo Samuel Sr.'s 9.5 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 Deebo Samuel Sr. and Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. averaged 9.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 6.0 points per game.

When are Deebo Samuel Sr. and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Deebo Samuel Sr. (WAS) has a bye in Week 7, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Deebo Samuel Sr. or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Deebo Samuel Sr. by 6.0 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.