De'Von Achane or Zay Flowers: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Start Achane — the projection and consensus rank edges are too wide to ignore.
De'Von Achane projects 19.4 to Flowers's 15.6 and is the higher consensus play (RB6 to WR16). Flowers's edge is the game script, 27.0 implied points to 18.5. The gap is wide.
De'Von Achane
15.117.319.4 Projected Points
Zay Flowers
10.413.015.6 Projected Points
De'Von Achane’s market
Zay Flowers’s market
Why De'Von Achane
StartRB1 and feature back. Elite home-run speed with heavy pass-game usage out of the backfield.
Start — every-week RB start at consensus RB6: 18.5 implied team total caps the ceiling, 22% target share.
- KC ranks 14 of 32 against RBs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 2-game sample).
- Vegas implies 18.5 team points as 7.5-point underdogs.
- Listed RB on the latest depth chart with a 81% snap share.
Latest on Achane
Eric Karabell provides a list of what to watch for in fantasy football, so don't be surprised if any of these come true.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Zay Flowers
StartWR1 and primary target. Twitchy separator with YAC ability, alignment versatility and jet-sweep usage.
Start — every-week WR start at consensus WR16: 27.0 implied team total, 23% target share.
- Carries a Questionable tag — usually plays, but monitor the final report.
- DAL ranks 17 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 2-game sample).
- Vegas implies 27.0 team points as 2.5-point favorites.
- Listed WR on the latest depth chart with a 29% snap share.
Latest on Flowers
Zay Flowers is not practicing to start the week while dealing with a hamstring injury.
Zay Flowers Not Practicing to Start Cowboys Weekbaltimoreravens.com · Sep 23, 2026Flowers' hamstring injury is the same issue that kept him out of multiple practices during training camp; the Ravens' other wide receivers combined for only 55 catches for 814 yards over the prior 18 games while Flowers had 91 catches for 1,361 yards, underscoring his role.
ESPN · Sep 19, 2026Zay Flowers was downgraded to out for the Week 2 game vs. the Saints with a hamstring injury he aggravated in the Week 1 win at Indianapolis; he missed the first two practices of the week before being limited Friday.
ESPN · Sep 19, 2026Cornerback T.J. Tampa has been placed on injured reserve. Offensive tackle Gerad Lichtenhan has been elevated from the practice squad.
Ravens receiver Zay Flowers is doubtful for Sunday's game vs. the Saints after he aggravated a left hamstring injury and missed the majority of practices this week.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe), left guard John Simpson (groin) and outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson were back at practice Friday.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | De'Von Achane | Zay Flowers |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 15.117.319.4 | 10.413.015.6 |
| Consensus rank | RB6 | WR16 |
| Opponent vs position | KC · 14 of 322-game sample | DAL · 17 of 322-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 10 of 32 | — |
| Rushing TDs | 22 of 32 | — |
| Rushing Attempts | 6 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | 11 of 32 | 17 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 16 of 32 | 12 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 18 of 32 | 15 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 15 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 25 of 32 |
| Target share | 22% | 23% |
| Reception share | 24% | 26% |
| Implied total · spread | 18.5+7.5 | 27.0-2.5 |
| Depth chart | RB1 | WR1 |
| Snap share | 81% | 29% |
| Injury designation | — | Questionable |
Recent form
De'Von Achane — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs SF | 9.310.812.3 |
| Week 1 | vs LV | 6.68.610.6 |
Zay Flowers — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs NO | 0.00.00.0 |
| Week 1 | vs IND | 21.023.526.0 |
Signal breakdown
- 19.4 vs 15.6 projected PPR pointsDe'Von Achane +
- Rank 6 vs 16De'Von Achane +
- Opponent DvP rank 14 vs 17 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 18.5 vs 27.0 team pointsZay Flowers +
- no designation vs QuestionableDe'Von Achane +
- 81% vs 29% snap shareDe'Von Achane +
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