Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover vs George KittleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Cade Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

George Kittle is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.1 PPG and 625 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Cade Stover (3.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster George Kittle as the starter and Cade Stover as depth.

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

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TEHouston Texans#99

Cade Stover

PPG

3.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

215

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Cade Stover

George Kittle

Head to Head

3.5 PPG12.1 PPG

15 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Stover is producing at 16% 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.

Cade Stover vs George Kittle: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games in 2025, outscoring Cade Stover (Houston Texans, 3.5 PPG) by 8.6 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

George Kittle carries a 8.6-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.

George Kittle is the volume tight end in this matchup with 57 receptions for 628 yards, while Cade Stover profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 22 catches). In weeks where Cade Stover finds the end zone he out-scores George Kittle, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Cade Stover is off Week 14 and George Kittle Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire George Kittle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Cade Stover is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cade Stover (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. 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 Cade Stover by a projected 146 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Stover played 15 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Cade Stover 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Stover vs George Kittle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	George Kittle
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	12.1
Games Played	15	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	133
Receptions	22	57
Rec/Game	1.5	5.2
Receiving Yards	215	628
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	57.1
Receiving TDs	1	7
Targets	32	69
Target Share/Game	2.1	6.3
Age	-	32
Experience	-	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, George Kittle holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 points per game. Cade Stover averaged 3.5 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 Stover or George Kittle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Cade Stover's 3.5 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 Stover and George Kittle average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 8.6 points per game.

When are Cade Stover and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Stover (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Stover or George Kittle a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

George Kittle outscored Cade Stover by 8.6 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.