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Updated August 16, 2026 from live stats

Jonathan Taylor vs Kareem HuntWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Jonathan Taylor over Kareem Hunt in 2026.

Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 PPG in 2025 to Kareem Hunt's 8.0, a 12.0 point per game edge. Taylor's 46-catch receiving role gives him a higher weekly floor in PPR and half-PPR. Jonathan Taylor is Tier 1 at the position, Kareem Hunt is Tier 6.

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 20.0 PPG and 1,963 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 Jonathan Taylor 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.

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RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

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

Jonathan Taylor

Kareem Hunt

Head to Head

20.0 PPG8.0 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 at the position). Kareem Hunt: Tier 6 (Deep League) RB (ranked #39 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jonathan Taylor is producing at 91% of elite pace and Kareem Hunt at 36%. That ranking gap means Jonathan Taylor carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Jonathan Taylor vs Kareem Hunt: The Full Breakdown

Jonathan Taylor and Kareem Hunt are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts running back averaged 20.0 PPG in 2025, a full 12.0 points per game ahead of Kareem Hunt's 8.0 with the Kansas City Chiefs. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 12.0-PPG gap gives Jonathan Taylor 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.

Jonathan Taylor is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 46 targets into 378 yards, while Kareem Hunt profiles as a more traditional rusher with 611 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jonathan Taylor carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Jonathan Taylor has his bye in Week 13, and Kareem Hunt rests in Week 5. 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 Jonathan Taylor 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: Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Kareem Hunt (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Kareem Hunt by a projected 204 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jonathan Taylor caught 46 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Jonathan Taylor is 4 years younger than Kareem Hunt (27 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jonathan Taylor vs Kareem Hunt: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jonathan Taylor	Kareem Hunt
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.0	8.0
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	340	136
Rushing Yards	1,585	611
Rush Yds/Game	93.2	35.9
Rushing TDs	18	8
Receptions	46	18
Receiving Yards	378	143
Targets	55	25
Total TDs	20	9
Age	27	31
Experience	5 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 5

Summary

Jonathan Taylor outscored Kareem Hunt by 12.0 PPG in 2025 (20.0 to 8.0). 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 Jonathan Taylor or Kareem Hunt in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 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 Jonathan Taylor and Kareem Hunt average in 2025?▾

Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 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 12.0 points per game.

When are Jonathan Taylor and Kareem Hunt's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor (IND) 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 Jonathan Taylor or Kareem Hunt a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor outscored Kareem Hunt by 12.0 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.