Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brock Bowers vs Hayden HurstWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brock Bowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.0 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brock Bowers is the better fantasy play this season.

Brock Bowers is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.0 PPG and 682 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Hayden Hurst (3.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Brock Bowers as the starter and Hayden Hurst as depth.

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

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TELas Vegas Raiders#4PPG LEADER

Brock Bowers

PPG

12.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

680

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

TELos Angeles Chargers#99

Hayden Hurst

PPG

3.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

238

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Brock Bowers

Hayden Hurst

Head to Head

12.0 PPG3.7 PPG

12 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Brock Bowers: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #4 at the position). Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Brock Bowers is producing at 55% of elite pace and Hayden Hurst at 17%. That ranking gap means Brock Bowers carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brock Bowers vs Hayden Hurst: The Full Breakdown

Brock Bowers and Hayden Hurst are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Las Vegas Raiders tight end averaged 12.0 PPG in 2025, a full 8.3 points per game ahead of Hayden Hurst's 3.7 with the Los Angeles Chargers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 8.3-PPG gap gives Brock Bowers the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Brock Bowers is the volume tight end in this matchup with 64 receptions for 680 yards, while Hayden Hurst profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Hayden Hurst finds the end zone he out-scores Brock Bowers, but the floor gap is real.

Brock Bowers has his bye in Week 13, and Hayden Hurst rests in Week 5. 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 Brock Bowers at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Hayden Hurst is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Brock Bowers (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Brock Bowers outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 141 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Hayden Hurst played 14 games in 2025 compared to Brock Bowers's 12. That durability gap means Hayden Hurst contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Brock Bowers scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Brock Bowers saw 86 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brock Bowers vs Hayden Hurst: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brock Bowers	Hayden Hurst
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.0	3.7
Games Played	12	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	144	52
Receptions	64	25
Rec/Game	5.3	1.8
Receiving Yards	680	238
Rec Yds/Game	56.7	17.0
Receiving TDs	7	1
Targets	86	35
Target Share/Game	7.2	2.5
Age	23	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 5

Summary

Brock Bowers outscored Hayden Hurst by 8.3 PPG in 2025 (12.0 to 3.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brock Bowers or Hayden Hurst in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brock Bowers has the edge at 12.0 PPG compared to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 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 Brock Bowers and Hayden Hurst average in 2025?▾

Brock Bowers averaged 12.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 8.3 points per game.

When are Brock Bowers and Hayden Hurst's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brock Bowers (LV) has a bye in Week 13, and Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brock Bowers or Hayden Hurst a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Brock Bowers outscored Hayden Hurst by 8.3 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.