Zay Flowers vs Rashee Rice
Who should you draft in 2026 fantasy football? Our machine learning model's projections, value over replacement (VBD), and the draft market's lean, refreshed every morning.
The call
The model takes Zay Flowers, and it isn't close: 15.1 points of value over replacement separate them (43.2 vs 28.1).
The room sees it the other way: drafters take Rashee Rice first (ADP 14.9 vs 25.9). If the model is right, Zay Flowers is the value pick, since the later cost buys the better 2026 projection.
Health note: Zay Flowers carries an injury flag of Questionable (Undisclosed), which is already reflected in his projection.
| Zay FlowersBAL | Rashee RiceKAN | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 223.4 | 208.3 | Flowers +15.1 pts |
| Points per game | 13.1 | 12.3 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | 43.2 | 28.1 | Flowers +15.1 |
| Overall rank | #35 | #47 | Flowers by 12 |
| Position rank | WR11 | WR14 | |
| Market ADP | 25.9 | 14.9 | Flowers +11.0 cheaper |
| Typical round (12-team) | Rd 3 | Rd 2 | |
| Bye week | 13 | 5 | |
| Injury flag | Questionable | None |
Should I draft Zay Flowers or Rashee Rice in 2026 fantasy football?
Zay Flowers. He projects 223.4 fantasy points with 43.2 value over replacement, vs 208.3 points and 28.1 for Rashee Rice (WR, PPR).