Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

T.J. Hockenson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.8 PPG to Cade Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

T.J. Hockenson is the better fantasy play this season.

T.J. Hockenson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.3-PPG advantage is real (5.8 to 3.5), and T.J. Hockenson's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cade Stover 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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TEHouston Texans#99

Cade Stover

PPG

3.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

215

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEMinnesota Vikings#30PPG LEADER

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Cade Stover

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

3.5 PPG5.8 PPG

15 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Stover is producing at 16% of elite pace and T.J. Hockenson at 26%. That ranking gap means T.J. Hockenson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Stover vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Cade Stover (Houston Texans) finished the 2025 season averaging 3.5 fantasy points per game in 15 games. T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings) came in at 5.8 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

T.J. Hockenson carries a 2.3-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.

T.J. Hockenson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 51 receptions for 438 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 T.J. Hockenson, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Cade Stover is off Week 14 and T.J. Hockenson Week 6. 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

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 Stover (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•T.J. Hockenson outscored Cade Stover by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•T.J. Hockenson scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•T.J. Hockenson saw 66 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 T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	5.8
Games Played	15	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	87
Receptions	22	51
Rec/Game	1.5	3.4
Receiving Yards	215	438
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	29.2
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	32	66
Target Share/Game	2.1	4.4
Age	-	28
Experience	-	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, T.J. Hockenson holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 5.8 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 T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, T.J. Hockenson has the edge at 5.8 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 T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Cade Stover and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Stover (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Stover or T.J. Hockenson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

T.J. Hockenson outscored Cade Stover by 2.3 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.