Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Audric Estimé vs Joe Mixon

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Joe Mixon is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.5 PPG and 1,405 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Audric Estimé (8.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Joe Mixon as the starter and Audric Estimé as depth.

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

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RBNew Orleans Saints#35

Audric Estimé

PPG

8.4

Games

Rush Yds

198

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

103

Bye

Week 11

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Audric Estimé

Joe Mixon

Head to Head

8.4 PPG16.5 PPG

5 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Audric Estimé: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #35 at the position). Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Audric Estimé is producing at 38% of elite pace and Joe Mixon at 75%. That ranking gap means Audric Estimé carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Audric Estimé vs Joe Mixon: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Joe Mixon (Houston Texans) averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games in 2025, outscoring Audric Estimé (New Orleans Saints, 8.4 PPG) by 8.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 8.1-PPG gap gives Joe Mixon 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. Audric Estimé ran for 198 yards and 1 touchdowns; Joe Mixon posted 1165 and 11. 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: Audric Estimé is off Week 11 and Joe Mixon Week 14. 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 Joe Mixon at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Audric Estimé is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Audric Estimé (age 22) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Audric Estimé by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to Audric Estimé's 5. That durability gap means Joe Mixon contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Joe Mixon caught 32 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatEstiméMixon

PPG (Half-PPR)8.416.5

Games Played515

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)42248

Rushing Yards1981,165

Rush Yds/Game39.677.7

Rushing TDs111

Receptions1232

Receiving Yards103240

Targets130

Total TDs112

Age22-

Experience1 yrs-

Bye WeekWeek 11Week 14

Summary

Joe Mixon outscored Audric Estimé by 8.1 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 8.4). 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 Audric Estimé or Joe Mixon in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Audric Estimé's 8.4 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 Audric Estimé and Joe Mixon average in 2025?▾

Audric Estimé averaged 8.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 5 games in 2025. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are Audric Estimé and Joe Mixon's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Audric Estimé (NO) has a bye in Week 11, and Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Audric Estimé or Joe Mixon a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored Audric Estimé by 8.1 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.