Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Cade Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Trey McBride is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.9 PPG and 1,239 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 Trey McBride 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

TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Cade Stover

Trey McBride

Head to Head

3.5 PPG14.9 PPG

15 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Stover is producing at 16% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Stover vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals) averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Cade Stover (Houston Texans, 3.5 PPG) by 11.4 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 11.4-PPG gap gives Trey McBride 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.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 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 Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 14 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Trey McBride 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. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Cade Stover by a projected 194 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Cade Stover's 15. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 14 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Stover vs Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	Trey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	14.9
Games Played	15	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	253
Receptions	22	126
Rec/Game	1.5	7.4
Receiving Yards	215	1,239
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	72.9
Receiving TDs	1	11
Targets	32	169
Target Share/Game	2.1	9.9
Age	-	26
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 14

Summary

Trey McBride outscored Cade Stover by 11.4 PPG in 2025 (14.9 to 3.5). 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 Stover or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 11.4 points per game.

Do Cade Stover and Trey McBride share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Cade Stover and Trey McBride share a Week 14 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is Cade Stover or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored Cade Stover by 11.4 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.