Cole Kmet vs Jake Ferguson: Who Should You Start?
Cole Kmet and Jake Ferguson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 PPG across 16 games with the Chicago Bears, while Jake Ferguson posted 8.7 PPG in 17 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.
A 4.7-PPG gap gives Jake Ferguson 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.
Jake Ferguson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 600 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 Jake Ferguson, but the floor gap is real.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 7 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
