Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet 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 Cole Kmet's 4.0 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 1.8-PPG advantage is real (5.8 to 4.0), and T.J. Hockenson's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cole Kmet is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TEChicago Bears#99

Cole Kmet

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

347

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TEMinnesota Vikings#30PPG LEADER

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Cole Kmet

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

4.0 PPG5.8 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

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

Cole Kmet vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Cole Kmet and T.J. Hockenson 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 T.J. Hockenson posted 5.8 PPG in 15 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 1.8-PPG gap gives T.J. Hockenson 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.

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

One scheduling note: Cole Kmet is off Week 7 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: Cole Kmet (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 Cole Kmet by a projected 31 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cole Kmet played 16 games in 2025 compared to T.J. Hockenson's 15. That durability gap means Cole Kmet contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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

Cole Kmet vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	5.8
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	87
Receptions	30	51
Rec/Game	1.9	3.4
Receiving Yards	347	438
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	29.2
Receiving TDs	2	3
Targets	48	66
Target Share/Game	3.0	4.4
Age	27	28
Experience	6 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 6

Summary

T.J. Hockenson outscored Cole Kmet by 1.8 PPG in 2025 (5.8 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 T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

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

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 1.8 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) has a bye in Week 7, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cole Kmet or T.J. Hockenson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

T.J. Hockenson outscored Cole Kmet by 1.8 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.