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Head to Head

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Brenton Strange vs George KittleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Brenton Strange's 7.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

George Kittle has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.2-PPG advantage is real (12.1 to 7.9), and George Kittle's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Brenton Strange is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEJacksonville Jaguars#19
Brenton Strange
PPG
7.9
Games
12
Rec
46
Rec Yds
540
Rec TDs
3
Targets
60
Bye
Week 7
TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER
George Kittle
PPG
12.1
Games
11
Rec
57
Rec Yds
628
Rec TDs
7
Targets
69
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Brenton Strange
George Kittle

Head to Head

7.9 PPG12.1 PPG
12 GP11 GP
Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Brenton Strange: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #19 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Brenton Strange is producing at 36% of elite pace and George Kittle at 55%. That ranking gap means George Kittle carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brenton Strange vs George Kittle: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars) finished the 2025 season averaging 7.9 fantasy points per game in 12 games. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) came in at 12.1 PPG over 11 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

George Kittle carries a 4.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Brenton Strange had 46 catches for 540 yards; George Kittle posted 57 for 628. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Brenton Strange has his bye in Week 7, and George Kittle rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire George Kittle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Brenton Strange is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Brenton Strange (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

  • George Kittle outscored Brenton Strange by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Brenton Strange played 12 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Brenton Strange contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • George Kittle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • George Kittle saw 69 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
  • Brenton Strange is 7 years younger than George Kittle (25 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brenton Strange vs George Kittle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatBrenton StrangeGeorge Kittle
PPG (Half-PPR)7.912.1
Games Played1211
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)95133
Receptions4657
Rec/Game3.85.2
Receiving Yards540628
Rec Yds/Game45.057.1
Receiving TDs37
Targets6069
Target Share/Game5.06.3
Age2532
Experience2 yrs8 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 7Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, George Kittle holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 points per game. Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brenton Strange or George Kittle in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Brenton Strange's 7.9 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 Brenton Strange and George Kittle average in 2025?

Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

When are Brenton Strange and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?

Brenton Strange (JAX) has a bye in Week 7, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brenton Strange or George Kittle a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

George Kittle outscored Brenton Strange by 4.2 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.

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