Cole Kmet vs Tyler Higbee: Who Should You Start?
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 5.9 PPG in 10 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.
A 1.9-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 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
