Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Jones vs Derrick Henry

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

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. Aaron Jones (8.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Derrick Henry as the starter and Aaron Jones as depth.

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

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RBMinnesota Vikings#34

Aaron Jones

PPG

8.7

Games

Rush Yds

548

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

199

Bye

Week 6

RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Derrick Henry

Head to Head

8.7 PPG16.0 PPG

12 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Aaron Jones is producing at 40% of elite pace and Derrick Henry at 73%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Derrick Henry: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Derrick Henry put up 16.0 fantasy points per game for the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, while Aaron Jones managed 8.7 across 12 games with the Minnesota Vikings. A 7.3-point weekly edge is substantial at the running back position.

A 7.3-PPG gap gives Derrick Henry 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. Aaron Jones ran for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns; Derrick Henry posted 1595 and 16. 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: Aaron Jones sits Week 6 while Derrick Henry is off Week 7. 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 Derrick Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Aaron Jones is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Aaron Jones (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored Aaron Jones by a projected 124 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to Aaron Jones's 12. That durability gap means Derrick Henry contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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▾

StatJonesHenry

PPG (Half-PPR)8.716.0

Games Played1217

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)104272

Rushing Yards5481,595

Rush Yds/Game45.793.8

Rushing TDs216

Receptions2815

Receiving Yards199150

Targets4121

Total TDs316

Age3132

Experience8 yrs9 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 6Week 7

Summary

Derrick Henry outscored Aaron Jones by 7.3 PPG in 2025 (16.0 to 8.7). 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 Aaron Jones or Derrick Henry in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to Aaron Jones's 8.7 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 Aaron Jones and Derrick Henry average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 7.3 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Derrick Henry's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aaron Jones or Derrick Henry a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Aaron Jones by 7.3 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.