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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Cooper Kupp vs George KittleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Cooper Kupp's 10.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, George Kittle (12.1 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Cooper Kupp (10.8 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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WRLos Angeles Rams#99
Cooper Kupp
PPG
10.8
Games
12
Rec
62
Rec Yds
748
Rec TDs
5
Targets
92
Bye
Week 6
TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER
George Kittle
PPG
12.1
Games
11
Rec
57
Rec Yds
628
Rec TDs
7
Targets
69
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Cooper Kupp
George Kittle

Head to Head

10.8 PPG12.1 PPG
12 GP11 GP
Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Kupp: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 5 (Deep League) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) TE in most league formats.

Cooper Kupp vs George Kittle: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Cooper Kupp (WR, Los Angeles Rams) against George Kittle (TE, San Francisco 49ers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Cooper Kupp averaged 10.8 PPG in 2025 over 12 games, while George Kittle posted 12.1 PPG across 11 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Cooper Kupp has his bye in Week 6, George Kittle in Week 8. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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: Cooper Kupp (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

  • George Kittle outscored Cooper Kupp by a projected 22 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Cooper Kupp played 12 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Cooper Kupp contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • George Kittle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Cooper Kupp saw 92 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Kupp vs George Kittle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatCooper KuppGeorge Kittle
PPG (Half-PPR)10.812.1
Games Played1211
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)130133
Receptions6257
Rec/Game5.25.2
Receiving Yards748628
Rec Yds/Game62.357.1
Receiving TDs57
Targets9269
Target Share/Game7.76.3
Age-32
Experience-8 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 6Week 8

Summary

George Kittle outscored Cooper Kupp by 1.3 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 10.8). 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 Cooper Kupp or George Kittle in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Cooper Kupp's 10.8 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 Cooper Kupp and George Kittle average in 2025?

Cooper Kupp averaged 10.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 1.3 points per game.

When are Cooper Kupp and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?

Cooper Kupp (LAR) has a bye in Week 6, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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