Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet vs George KittleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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. Cole Kmet (4.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster George Kittle as the starter and Cole Kmet as depth.

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

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TEChicago Bears#99

Cole Kmet

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

347

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Cole Kmet

George Kittle

Head to Head

4.0 PPG12.1 PPG

16 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Cole Kmet: 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, Cole Kmet is producing at 18% 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.

Cole Kmet vs George Kittle: The Full Breakdown

The numbers tell a clear story here. George Kittle put up 12.1 fantasy points per game for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, while Cole Kmet managed 4.0 across 16 games with the Chicago Bears. A 8.1-point weekly edge is substantial at the tight end position.

A 8.1-PPG gap gives George Kittle 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.

George Kittle is the volume tight end in this matchup with 57 receptions for 628 yards, while Cole Kmet profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 30 catches). In weeks where Cole Kmet finds the end zone he out-scores George Kittle, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Cole Kmet sits Week 7 while George Kittle is off Week 8. 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

If you can acquire George Kittle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Cole Kmet is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cole Kmet (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 Cole Kmet by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cole Kmet played 16 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Cole Kmet 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.
•Cole Kmet is 5 years younger than George Kittle (27 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cole Kmet vs George Kittle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	George Kittle
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	12.1
Games Played	16	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	133
Receptions	30	57
Rec/Game	1.9	5.2
Receiving Yards	347	628
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	57.1
Receiving TDs	2	7
Targets	48	69
Target Share/Game	3.0	6.3
Age	27	32
Experience	6 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 8

Summary

George Kittle outscored Cole Kmet by 8.1 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 4.0). 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 Cole Kmet or George Kittle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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 Cole Kmet and George Kittle average in 2025?▾

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) has a bye in Week 7, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cole Kmet or George Kittle a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

George Kittle outscored Cole Kmet by 8.1 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.