Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 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 3.3-PPG advantage is real (8.0 to 4.7), and Dalton Schultz's 3 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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TEHouston Texans#18PPG LEADER

Dalton Schultz

PPG

8.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

777

Rec TDs

Targets

106

Bye

Week 8

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Dalton Schultz

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

8.0 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Dalton Schultz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #18 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dalton Schultz is producing at 36% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Dalton Schultz carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dalton Schultz vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

Dalton Schultz and Michael Mayer 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 Michael Mayer posted 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 3.3-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 Michael Mayer profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 35 catches). In weeks where Michael Mayer finds the end zone he out-scores Dalton Schultz, but the floor gap is real.

Dalton Schultz has his bye in Week 8, and Michael Mayer rests in Week 13. 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. Michael Mayer 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. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Dalton Schultz outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dalton Schultz played 17 games in 2025 compared to Michael Mayer's 12. 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.
•Michael Mayer is 5 years younger than Dalton Schultz (24 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dalton Schultz vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dalton Schultz	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.0	4.7
Games Played	17	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	56
Receptions	82	35
Rec/Game	4.8	2.9
Receiving Yards	777	328
Rec Yds/Game	45.7	27.3
Receiving TDs	3	1
Targets	106	50
Target Share/Game	6.2	4.2
Age	29	24
Experience	7 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 13

Summary

Dalton Schultz outscored Michael Mayer by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (8.0 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 Schultz or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Dalton Schultz has the edge at 8.0 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 Schultz and Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

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

Dalton Schultz (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Dalton Schultz outscored Michael Mayer by 3.3 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.