Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Nick ChubbWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Nick Chubb's 5.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Conner is the better fantasy play this season.

James Conner is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 11.0 PPG and 970 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Nick Chubb (5.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster James Conner as the starter and Nick Chubb as depth.

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

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RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

RBHouston Texans#59

Nick Chubb

PPG

5.5

Games

Rush Yds

506

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Nick Chubb

Head to Head

11.0 PPG5.5 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Nick Chubb: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #59 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, James Conner is producing at 50% of elite pace and Nick Chubb at 25%. That ranking gap means Nick Chubb carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

James Conner vs Nick Chubb: The Full Breakdown

James Conner and Nick Chubb are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG across 14 games with the Arizona Cardinals, while Nick Chubb posted 5.5 PPG in 15 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 5.5-PPG gap gives James Conner 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.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. James Conner ran for 752 yards and 5 touchdowns; Nick Chubb posted 506 and 3. 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: James Conner sits Week 11 while Nick Chubb is off Week 8. 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 James Conner at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Nick Chubb is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Nick Chubb (age 30, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Nick Chubb by a projected 94 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nick Chubb played 15 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Nick Chubb contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•James Conner scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

James Conner vs Nick Chubb: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Nick Chubb
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	5.5
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	83
Rushing Yards	752	506
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	33.7
Rushing TDs	5	3
Receptions	28	13
Receiving Yards	218	67
Targets	0	20
Total TDs	6	3
Age	-	30
Experience	-	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 8

Summary

James Conner outscored Nick Chubb by 5.5 PPG in 2025 (11.0 to 5.5). 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 James Conner or Nick Chubb in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Nick Chubb's 5.5 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 James Conner and Nick Chubb average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Nick Chubb averaged 5.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.5 points per game.

When are James Conner and Nick Chubb's bye weeks in 2026?▾

James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11, and Nick Chubb (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is James Conner or Nick Chubb a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

James Conner outscored Nick Chubb by 5.5 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.