Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dalton Schultz vs Ja'Tavion SandersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Ja'Tavion Sanders's 4.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy play this season.

Dalton Schultz has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (8.0 to 4.2), and Dalton Schultz's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Ja'Tavion Sanders 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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TEHouston Texans#18PPG LEADER

Dalton Schultz

PPG

8.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

777

Rec TDs

Targets

106

Bye

Week 8

TECarolina Panthers#99

Ja'Tavion Sanders

PPG

4.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

308

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Dalton Schultz

Ja'Tavion Sanders

Head to Head

8.0 PPG4.2 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Dalton Schultz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #18 at the position). Ja'Tavion Sanders: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dalton Schultz is producing at 36% of elite pace and Ja'Tavion Sanders at 19%. That ranking gap means Dalton Schultz carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dalton Schultz vs Ja'Tavion Sanders: The Full Breakdown

Dalton Schultz and Ja'Tavion Sanders are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 PPG across 17 games with the Houston Texans, while Ja'Tavion Sanders posted 4.2 PPG in 14 appearances for the Carolina Panthers.

A 3.8-PPG gap gives Dalton Schultz 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.

Dalton Schultz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 777 yards, while Ja'Tavion Sanders profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 32 catches). In weeks where Ja'Tavion Sanders finds the end zone he out-scores Dalton Schultz, but the floor gap is real.

Dalton Schultz has his bye in Week 8, and Ja'Tavion Sanders rests in Week 11. 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 Dalton Schultz at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Ja'Tavion Sanders is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Dalton Schultz (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Ja'Tavion Sanders (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Dalton Schultz outscored Ja'Tavion Sanders by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dalton Schultz played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ja'Tavion Sanders's 14. That durability gap means Dalton Schultz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dalton Schultz scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Dalton Schultz saw 106 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dalton Schultz vs Ja'Tavion Sanders: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dalton Schultz	Ja'Tavion Sanders
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	4.2
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	59
Receptions	82	32
Rec/Game	4.8	2.3
Receiving Yards	777	308
Rec Yds/Game	45.7	22.0
Receiving TDs	3	1
Targets	106	45
Target Share/Game	6.2	3.2
Age	29	-
Experience	7 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 11

Summary

Dalton Schultz outscored Ja'Tavion Sanders by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (8.0 to 4.2). 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 Schultz or Ja'Tavion Sanders in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dalton Schultz has the edge at 8.0 PPG compared to Ja'Tavion Sanders's 4.2 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 Schultz and Ja'Tavion Sanders average in 2025?▾

Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Ja'Tavion Sanders averaged 4.2 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Dalton Schultz and Ja'Tavion Sanders's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dalton Schultz (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Ja'Tavion Sanders (CAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dalton Schultz or Ja'Tavion Sanders a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Dalton Schultz outscored Ja'Tavion Sanders by 3.8 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.