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Cade Otton vs Dalton SchultzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Cade Otton's 6.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy play this season.

Dalton Schultz has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.8-PPG advantage is real (8.0 to 6.2), and Dalton Schultz's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cade Otton is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TETampa Bay Buccaneers#29
Cade Otton
PPG
6.2
Games
15
Rec
59
Rec Yds
572
Rec TDs
1
Targets
81
Bye
Week 10
TEHouston Texans#18PPG LEADER
Dalton Schultz
PPG
8.0
Games
17
Rec
82
Rec Yds
777
Rec TDs
3
Targets
106
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Cade Otton
Dalton Schultz

Head to Head

6.2 PPG8.0 PPG
15 GP17 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Otton: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #29 at the position). Dalton Schultz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Otton is producing at 28% of elite pace and Dalton Schultz at 36%. That ranking gap means Dalton Schultz carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Otton vs Dalton Schultz: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.2 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans) came in at 8.0 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Dalton Schultz carries a 1.8-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.

Dalton Schultz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 777 yards, while Cade Otton profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 59 catches). In weeks where Cade Otton finds the end zone he out-scores Dalton Schultz, but the floor gap is real.

Cade Otton has his bye in Week 10, and Dalton Schultz 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Cade Otton (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Dalton Schultz (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Dalton Schultz outscored Cade Otton by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Dalton Schultz played 17 games in 2025 compared to Cade Otton's 15. That durability gap means Dalton Schultz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Dalton Schultz scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Dalton Schultz saw 106 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Otton vs Dalton Schultz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatCade OttonDalton Schultz
PPG (Half-PPR)6.28.0
Games Played1517
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)93136
Receptions5982
Rec/Game3.94.8
Receiving Yards572777
Rec Yds/Game38.145.7
Receiving TDs13
Targets81106
Target Share/Game5.46.2
Age2729
Experience3 yrs7 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Dalton Schultz holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.0 points per game. Cade Otton averaged 6.2 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 Cade Otton or Dalton Schultz in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Dalton Schultz has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Cade Otton's 6.2 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 Cade Otton and Dalton Schultz average in 2025?

Cade Otton averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Cade Otton and Dalton Schultz's bye weeks in 2026?

Cade Otton (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Dalton Schultz (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Otton or Dalton Schultz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Dalton Schultz outscored Cade Otton by 1.8 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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