Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Luther Burden III 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. Luther Burden III (7.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Rashee Rice as the starter and Luther Burden III as depth.

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

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WRChicago Bears#60

Luther Burden III

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

652

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Luther Burden III

Rashee Rice

Head to Head

7.0 PPG15.5 PPG

15 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Luther Burden III: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #60 at the position). Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Luther Burden III is producing at 32% 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.

Luther Burden III vs Rashee Rice: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two wide receivers. Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs) averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games in 2025, outscoring Luther Burden III (Chicago Bears, 7.0 PPG) by 8.5 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 8.5-PPG gap gives Rashee Rice 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 are workload receivers with similar target shares. Luther Burden III turned 60 targets into 652 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Rashee Rice converted 78 looks into 571 yards and 5 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.

One scheduling note: Luther Burden III is off Week 5 and Rashee Rice Week 10. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver 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 Rashee Rice at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Luther Burden III is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Luther Burden III (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Luther Burden III by a projected 145 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Luther Burden III played 15 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Luther Burden III 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.
•Rashee Rice saw 78 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Luther Burden III is 4 years younger than Rashee Rice (22 vs 26), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatIIIRice

PPG (Half-PPR)7.015.5

Games Played158

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)105124

Receptions4753

Rec/Game3.16.6

Receiving Yards652571

Rec Yds/Game43.571.4

Receiving TDs25

Targets6078

Target Share/Game4.09.8

Age2226

Experience-2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 5Week 10

Summary

Rashee Rice outscored Luther Burden III by 8.5 PPG in 2025 (15.5 to 7.0). 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 Luther Burden III or Rashee Rice in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 PPG compared to Luther Burden III's 7.0 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 Luther Burden III and Rashee Rice average in 2025?▾

Luther Burden III averaged 7.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 8.5 points per game.

When are Luther Burden III and Rashee Rice's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Luther Burden III (CHI) has a bye in Week 5, and Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Luther Burden III or Rashee Rice a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice outscored Luther Burden III by 8.5 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.