Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brandon Aiyuk vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brandon Aiyuk is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Brandon Aiyuk (11.8 PPG) is the higher-floor play. T.J. Hockenson (5.8 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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WRSan Francisco 49ers#99PPG LEADER

Brandon Aiyuk

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

762

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Brandon Aiyuk

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

11.8 PPG5.8 PPG

13 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Brandon Aiyuk: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 5 (Deep League) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE in most league formats.

Brandon Aiyuk vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Brandon Aiyuk (WR, San Francisco 49ers) against T.J. Hockenson (TE, Minnesota Vikings) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 PPG in 2025 over 13 games, while T.J. Hockenson posted 5.8 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Brandon Aiyuk has his bye in Week 9, T.J. Hockenson in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Brandon Aiyuk is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. T.J. Hockenson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Brandon Aiyuk (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Brandon Aiyuk outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 102 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•T.J. Hockenson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Brandon Aiyuk's 13. That durability gap means T.J. Hockenson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Brandon Aiyuk scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Brandon Aiyuk saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brandon Aiyuk vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brandon Aiyuk	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.8	5.8
Games Played	13	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	153	87
Receptions	58	51
Rec/Game	4.5	3.4
Receiving Yards	762	438
Rec Yds/Game	58.6	29.2
Receiving TDs	5	3
Targets	82	66
Target Share/Game	6.3	4.4
Age	-	28
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Brandon Aiyuk at 11.8 PPG, 6.0 points per game above T.J. Hockenson's 5.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brandon Aiyuk or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brandon Aiyuk has the edge at 11.8 PPG compared to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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 Brandon Aiyuk and T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Brandon Aiyuk averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.0 points per game.

When are Brandon Aiyuk and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) has a bye in Week 9, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.