Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tyler Higbee is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.5 PPG to Cole Kmet's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tyler Higbee is the better fantasy play this season.

Tyler Higbee has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.5-PPG advantage is real (6.5 to 4.0), and Tyler Higbee'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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Cole Kmet and Tyler Higbee in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEChicago Bears#99

Cole Kmet

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

347

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TELos Angeles Rams#25PPG LEADER

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Cole Kmet

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

4.0 PPG6.5 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Cole Kmet: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cole Kmet is producing at 18% of elite pace and Tyler Higbee at 30%. That ranking gap means Tyler Higbee carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cole Kmet vs Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Cole Kmet and Tyler Higbee 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 Tyler Higbee posted 6.5 PPG in 9 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 2.5-PPG gap gives Tyler Higbee 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.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Cole Kmet had 30 catches for 347 yards; Tyler Higbee posted 25 for 281. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Cole Kmet sits Week 7 while Tyler Higbee is off Week 11. 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

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. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Tyler Higbee outscored Cole Kmet by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cole Kmet played 16 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. That durability gap means Cole Kmet contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tyler Higbee scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Cole Kmet saw 48 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Cole Kmet is 6 years younger than Tyler Higbee (27 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cole Kmet vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	6.5
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	59
Receptions	30	25
Rec/Game	1.9	2.8
Receiving Yards	347	281
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	31.2
Receiving TDs	2	3
Targets	48	36
Target Share/Game	3.0	4.0
Age	27	33
Experience	6 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 11

Summary

Tyler Higbee outscored Cole Kmet by 2.5 PPG in 2025 (6.5 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Cole Kmet vs Tyler Higbee

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Cole Kmet vs Tyler Higbee

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cole Kmet or Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tyler Higbee has the edge at 6.5 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 Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and Tyler Higbee's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) has a bye in Week 7, and Tyler Higbee (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cole Kmet or Tyler Higbee a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Tyler Higbee outscored Cole Kmet by 2.5 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.