Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Joe Mixon vs Kimani Vidal

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. Kimani Vidal (9.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Joe Mixon as the starter and Kimani Vidal as depth.

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

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RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

RBLos Angeles Chargers#32

Kimani Vidal

PPG

9.2

Games

Rush Yds

643

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

136

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Joe Mixon

Kimani Vidal

Head to Head

16.5 PPG9.2 PPG

15 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Kimani Vidal: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Joe Mixon is producing at 75% of elite pace and Kimani Vidal at 42%. That ranking gap means Kimani Vidal carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joe Mixon vs Kimani Vidal: 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 Kimani Vidal (Los Angeles Chargers, 9.2 PPG) by 7.3 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 7.3-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. Joe Mixon ran for 1165 yards and 11 touchdowns; Kimani Vidal posted 643 and 3. 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: Joe Mixon is off Week 14 and Kimani Vidal Week 12. 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. Kimani Vidal is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Kimani Vidal (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Kimani Vidal by a projected 124 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to Kimani Vidal's 12. 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▾

StatMixonVidal

PPG (Half-PPR)16.59.2

Games Played1512

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)248110

Rushing Yards1,165643

Rush Yds/Game77.753.6

Rushing TDs113

Receptions3216

Receiving Yards240136

Targets022

Total TDs124

Age-24

Experience-1 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 12

Summary

Joe Mixon outscored Kimani Vidal by 7.3 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 9.2). 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 Joe Mixon or Kimani Vidal in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Kimani Vidal's 9.2 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 Joe Mixon and Kimani Vidal average in 2025?▾

Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Kimani Vidal averaged 9.2 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 7.3 points per game.

When are Joe Mixon and Kimani Vidal's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Kimani Vidal (LAC) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joe Mixon or Kimani Vidal a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored Kimani Vidal 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.