Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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. Cole Kmet (4.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Trey McBride 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

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

Cole Kmet

Trey McBride

Head to Head

4.0 PPG14.9 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

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

Cole Kmet vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

Trey McBride and Cole Kmet are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Arizona Cardinals tight end averaged 14.9 PPG in 2025, a full 10.9 points per game ahead of Cole Kmet's 4.0 with the Chicago Bears. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Trey McBride carries a 10.9-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.

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

Cole Kmet has his bye in Week 7, and Trey McBride rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

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

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Cole Kmet by a projected 185 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Cole Kmet's 16. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cole Kmet vs Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	Trey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	14.9
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	253
Receptions	30	126
Rec/Game	1.9	7.4
Receiving Yards	347	1,239
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	72.9
Receiving TDs	2	11
Targets	48	169
Target Share/Game	3.0	9.9
Age	27	26
Experience	6 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 14

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Trey McBride holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.9 points per game. Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 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 Cole Kmet or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

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

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 10.9 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) has a bye in Week 7, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cole Kmet or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored Cole Kmet by 10.9 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.