Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dalton Kincaid vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dalton Kincaid is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.9 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dalton Kincaid is the better fantasy play this season.

Dalton Kincaid has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.2-PPG advantage is real (8.9 to 4.7), and Dalton Kincaid's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Mayer 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.

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TEBuffalo Bills#11PPG LEADER

Dalton Kincaid

PPG

8.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Dalton Kincaid

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

8.9 PPG4.7 PPG

12 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Dalton Kincaid: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #11 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dalton Kincaid is producing at 40% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Dalton Kincaid carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dalton Kincaid vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Dalton Kincaid averaged 8.9 PPG across 12 games with the Buffalo Bills, while Michael Mayer posted 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 4.2-PPG gap gives Dalton Kincaid 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. Dalton Kincaid had 39 catches for 571 yards; Michael Mayer posted 35 for 328. 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: Dalton Kincaid sits Week 7 while Michael Mayer is off Week 13. 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

If you can acquire Dalton Kincaid at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Michael Mayer is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Dalton Kincaid (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Dalton Kincaid outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dalton Kincaid scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Michael Mayer saw 50 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dalton Kincaid vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dalton Kincaid	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.9	4.7
Games Played	12	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	107	56
Receptions	39	35
Rec/Game	3.3	2.9
Receiving Yards	571	328
Rec Yds/Game	47.6	27.3
Receiving TDs	5	1
Targets	49	50
Target Share/Game	4.1	4.2
Age	26	24
Experience	2 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 13

Summary

Dalton Kincaid outscored Michael Mayer by 4.2 PPG in 2025 (8.9 to 4.7). 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 Dalton Kincaid or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dalton Kincaid has the edge at 8.9 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 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 Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Dalton Kincaid averaged 8.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

When are Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dalton Kincaid (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dalton Kincaid or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Dalton Kincaid outscored Michael Mayer by 4.2 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.