Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Otton vs Hayden HurstWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Cade Otton is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Cade Otton is the better fantasy play this season.

Cade Otton has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.5-PPG advantage is real (6.2 to 3.7), and Cade Otton's 1 touchdowns show scoring upside. Hayden Hurst 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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TETampa Bay Buccaneers#29PPG LEADER

Cade Otton

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

572

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TELos Angeles Chargers#99

Hayden Hurst

PPG

3.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

238

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Cade Otton

Hayden Hurst

Head to Head

6.2 PPG3.7 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Otton: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #29 at the position). Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Otton is producing at 28% of elite pace and Hayden Hurst at 17%. That ranking gap means Cade Otton carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Otton vs Hayden Hurst: The Full Breakdown

Cade Otton and Hayden Hurst are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cade Otton averaged 6.2 PPG across 15 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Hayden Hurst posted 3.7 PPG in 14 appearances for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 2.5-PPG gap gives Cade Otton 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.

Cade Otton is the volume tight end in this matchup with 59 receptions for 572 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 Cade Otton, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Cade Otton sits Week 10 while Hayden Hurst is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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. Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Cade Otton outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Otton played 15 games in 2025 compared to Hayden Hurst's 14. That durability gap means Cade Otton contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Cade Otton scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Cade Otton saw 81 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 Hayden Hurst: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Otton	Hayden Hurst
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.2	3.7
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	93	52
Receptions	59	25
Rec/Game	3.9	1.8
Receiving Yards	572	238
Rec Yds/Game	38.1	17.0
Receiving TDs	1	1
Targets	81	35
Target Share/Game	5.4	2.5
Age	27	-
Experience	3 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 5

Summary

Cade Otton outscored Hayden Hurst by 2.5 PPG in 2025 (6.2 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 Cade Otton or Hayden Hurst in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Cade Otton has the edge at 6.2 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 Cade Otton and Hayden Hurst average in 2025?▾

Cade Otton averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Cade Otton and Hayden Hurst's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Otton (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Otton or Hayden Hurst a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Cade Otton outscored Hayden Hurst by 2.5 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.