I don't think that is abnormal. If there exists a file with the same name on the remote already then rclone has to check it to know whether to update it or not. Then if it decides it is an older version it will also transfer.
Copying a file that doesn't already exist will only require a transfer.
"Copying" a file that rclone determines does not need to be updated will just require a check (the transfer is skipped).
It sounds like in your case you are maybe updating many of your files, thus requiring both.
Are you experiencing any problems outside of not being sure about the statistics numbers?
Then perhaps you are using hash-checking with --checksum?
In that case the hash will be calculated as it is being read through rclone and I believe that also will show up as a check. A lot of various operations go under that same umbrella.