Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Joe Mixon vs Trey Benson

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. Trey Benson (7.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Joe Mixon as the starter and Trey Benson 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

RBArizona Cardinals#46

Trey Benson

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

160

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Joe Mixon

Trey Benson

Head to Head

16.5 PPG7.2 PPG

15 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Trey Benson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #46 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Joe Mixon is producing at 75% of elite pace and Trey Benson at 33%. That ranking gap means Trey Benson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Joe Mixon vs Trey Benson: 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 Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals, 7.2 PPG) by 9.3 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Joe Mixon carries a 9.3-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.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Joe Mixon ran for 1165 yards and 11 touchdowns; Trey Benson posted 160 and undefined. 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 Trey Benson Week 8. 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. Trey Benson 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. Trey Benson (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Trey Benson by a projected 158 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to Trey Benson's 4. That durability gap means Joe Mixon contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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▾

StatMixonBenson

PPG (Half-PPR)16.57.2

Games Played154

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)24829

Rushing Yards1,165160

Rush Yds/Game77.740.0

Rushing TDs110

Receptions3213

Receiving Yards24064

Targets016

Total TDs120

Age-23

Experience-1 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 14Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Joe Mixon holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.5 points per game. Trey Benson averaged 7.2 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 Joe Mixon or Trey Benson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Trey Benson's 7.2 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 Trey Benson average in 2025?▾

Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Trey Benson averaged 7.2 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 9.3 points per game.

When are Joe Mixon and Trey Benson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Trey Benson (ARI) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Joe Mixon or Trey Benson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored Trey Benson by 9.3 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.