Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Joe Mixon vs Kyle Monangai

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. Kyle Monangai (8.1 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Joe Mixon as the starter and Kyle Monangai 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

RBChicago Bears#38

Kyle Monangai

PPG

8.1

Games

Rush Yds

783

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

164

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Joe Mixon

Kyle Monangai

Head to Head

16.5 PPG8.1 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Kyle Monangai: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Joe Mixon is producing at 75% of elite pace and Kyle Monangai at 37%. That ranking gap means Kyle Monangai carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joe Mixon vs Kyle Monangai: 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 Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears, 8.1 PPG) by 8.4 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 8.4-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; Kyle Monangai posted 783 and 5. 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 Kyle Monangai Week 5. 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. Kyle Monangai 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. Kyle Monangai (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Kyle Monangai by a projected 143 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Monangai played 17 games in 2025 compared to Joe Mixon's 15. That durability gap means Kyle Monangai 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▾

StatMixonMonangai

PPG (Half-PPR)16.58.1

Games Played1517

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)248138

Rushing Yards1,165783

Rush Yds/Game77.746.1

Rushing TDs115

Receptions3218

Receiving Yards240164

Targets030

Total TDs125

Age-23

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 5

Summary

Joe Mixon outscored Kyle Monangai by 8.4 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 8.1). 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 Kyle Monangai in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Kyle Monangai's 8.1 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 Kyle Monangai average in 2025?▾

Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Kyle Monangai averaged 8.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 8.4 points per game.

When are Joe Mixon and Kyle Monangai's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Kyle Monangai (CHI) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joe Mixon or Kyle Monangai a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored Kyle Monangai by 8.4 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.