Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Justin Jefferson vs Rashee Rice

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Rashee Rice is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.5 PPG and 591 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Justin Jefferson (9.4 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Rashee Rice as the starter and Justin Jefferson as depth.

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

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WRMinnesota Vikings#37

Justin Jefferson

PPG

9.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,048

Rec TDs

Targets

141

Bye

Week 6

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Justin Jefferson

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

9.4 PPG15.5 PPG

17 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Justin Jefferson: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #37 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Justin Jefferson is producing at 43% of elite pace and Rashee Rice at 70%. That ranking gap means Rashee Rice carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Justin Jefferson vs Rashee Rice: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Rashee Rice put up 15.5 fantasy points per game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, while Justin Jefferson managed 9.4 across 17 games with the Minnesota Vikings. A 6.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

Rashee Rice carries a 6.1-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.

Target volume is the story here. Justin Jefferson saw 141 targets in 2025, while Rashee Rice drew 78. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Justin Jefferson, even in weeks where Rashee Rice posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Justin Jefferson sits Week 6 while Rashee Rice is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Rashee Rice at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Justin Jefferson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Justin Jefferson (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Justin Jefferson by a projected 104 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Justin Jefferson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Justin Jefferson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Justin Jefferson saw 141 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatJeffersonRice

PPG (Half-PPR)9.415.5

Games Played178

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)160124

Receptions8453

Rec/Game4.96.6

Receiving Yards1,048571

Rec Yds/Game61.671.4

Receiving TDs25

Targets14178

Target Share/Game8.39.8

Age2626

Experience5 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 6Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Rashee Rice holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.5 points per game. Justin Jefferson averaged 9.4 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 Justin Jefferson or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Justin Jefferson's 9.4 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 Justin Jefferson and Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Justin Jefferson averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 6.1 points per game.

When are Justin Jefferson and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Justin Jefferson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Justin Jefferson or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Justin Jefferson by 6.1 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.