Dalton Schultz vs Noah Fant: Who Should You Start?
Dalton Schultz and Noah Fant 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 Noah Fant posted 3.9 PPG in 15 appearances for the New Orleans Saints.
A 4.1-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 Noah Fant profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 34 catches). In weeks where Noah Fant finds the end zone he out-scores Dalton Schultz, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Dalton Schultz sits Week 14 while Noah Fant is off Week 12. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
