Download DraftCall for Free

Head to Head

Updated August 16, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Kareem HuntWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Derrick Henry over Kareem Hunt in 2026.

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG in 2025 to Kareem Hunt's 8.0, a 8.0 point per game edge. Both play running backs, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit. Derrick Henry is Tier 2 at the position, Kareem Hunt is Tier 6.

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.0 PPG and 1,745 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Kareem Hunt (8.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Derrick Henry as the starter and Kareem Hunt as depth.

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

Download the App

Track Derrick Henry and Kareem Hunt live in the DraftCall app.

App Store Google Play

RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 13

RBKansas City Chiefs#39

Kareem Hunt

PPG

8.0

Games

Rush Yds

611

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

143

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Kareem Hunt

Head to Head

16.0 PPG8.0 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Kareem Hunt: Tier 6 (Deep League) RB (ranked #39 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Derrick Henry is producing at 73% of elite pace and Kareem Hunt at 36%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derrick Henry vs Kareem Hunt: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) averaged 16.0 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs, 8.0 PPG) by 8.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Derrick Henry carries a 8.0-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 profile as early-down workhorses. Derrick Henry ran for 1595 yards and 16 touchdowns; Kareem Hunt posted 611 and 8. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One scheduling note: Derrick Henry is off Week 13 and Kareem Hunt Week 5. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Derrick Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Kareem Hunt is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Kareem Hunt (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Kareem Hunt by a projected 136 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Kareem Hunt: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Kareem Hunt
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	8.0
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	136
Rushing Yards	1,595	611
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	35.9
Rushing TDs	16	8
Receptions	15	18
Receiving Yards	150	143
Targets	21	25
Total TDs	16	9
Age	32	31
Experience	9 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Derrick Henry holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.0 points per game. Kareem Hunt averaged 8.0 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Derrick Henry vs Kareem Hunt

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

App Store Google Play What you get →

Free on the App Store and Google Play. $2.99/month premium.

Inside the app

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Derrick Henry or Kareem Hunt in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Kareem Hunt's 8.0 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 Derrick Henry and Kareem Hunt average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Kareem Hunt averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.0 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Kareem Hunt's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Kareem Hunt (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or Kareem Hunt a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Kareem Hunt by 8.0 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.