Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Devin Neal vs Jonathan Taylor

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

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. Devin Neal (5.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Jonathan Taylor as the starter and Devin Neal 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#57

Devin Neal

PPG

5.7

Games

Rush Yds

206

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

104

Bye

Week 11

RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Devin Neal

Jonathan Taylor

Head to Head

5.7 PPG20.0 PPG

9 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Devin Neal: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #57 at the position). Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Devin Neal is producing at 26% of elite pace and Jonathan Taylor at 91%. That ranking gap means Jonathan Taylor carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Devin Neal vs Jonathan Taylor: Who Should You Start?

Jonathan Taylor and Devin Neal are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Indianapolis Colts running back averaged 20.0 PPG in 2025, a full 14.3 points per game ahead of Devin Neal's 5.7 with the New Orleans Saints. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Jonathan Taylor carries a 14.3-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.

Jonathan Taylor is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 46 targets into 378 yards, while Devin Neal profiles as a more traditional rusher with 206 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jonathan Taylor carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jonathan Taylor at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Devin Neal is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Devin Neal (age 22) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Devin Neal by a projected 243 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor played 17 games in 2025 compared to Devin Neal's 9. That durability gap means Jonathan Taylor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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.
•Devin Neal is 5 years younger than Jonathan Taylor (22 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatNealTaylor

PPG (Half-PPR)5.720.0

Games Played917

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)51340

Rushing Yards2061,585

Rush Yds/Game22.993.2

Rushing TDs218

Receptions1746

Receiving Yards104378

Targets1955

Total TDs220

Age2227

Experience-5 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 11Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jonathan Taylor holds the PPG edge with strong output at 20.0 points per game. Devin Neal averaged 5.7 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Devin Neal or Jonathan Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 PPG compared to Devin Neal's 5.7 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 Devin Neal and Jonathan Taylor average in 2025?▾

Devin Neal averaged 5.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 14.3 points per game.

Do Devin Neal and Jonathan Taylor share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Devin Neal and Jonathan Taylor share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Devin Neal or Jonathan Taylor a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor outscored Devin Neal by 14.3 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.