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Head to Head

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Dalton Schultz vs Puka NacuaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Puka Nacua is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.4 PPG to Dalton Schultz's 8.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Puka Nacua is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Puka Nacua (19.4 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Dalton Schultz (8.0 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.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEHouston Texans#18
Dalton Schultz
PPG
8.0
Games
17
Rec
82
Rec Yds
777
Rec TDs
3
Targets
106
Bye
Week 8
WRLos Angeles Rams#1PPG LEADER
Puka Nacua
PPG
19.4
Games
16
Rec
129
Rec Yds
1,715
Rec TDs
10
Targets
166
Bye
Week 11

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Dalton Schultz
Puka Nacua

Head to Head

8.0 PPG19.4 PPG
17 GP16 GP
Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Dalton Schultz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #18 at the position). Puka Nacua: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #1 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) WR in most league formats.

Dalton Schultz vs Puka Nacua: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Dalton Schultz (TE, Houston Texans) against Puka Nacua (WR, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Puka Nacua posted 19.4 PPG across 16 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.

Dalton Schultz has his bye in Week 8, Puka Nacua in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Puka Nacua at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Dalton Schultz 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. Puka Nacua (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Puka Nacua outscored Dalton Schultz by a projected 194 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Dalton Schultz played 17 games in 2025 compared to Puka Nacua's 16. That durability gap means Dalton Schultz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Puka Nacua scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Puka Nacua saw 166 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
  • Puka Nacua is 4 years younger than Dalton Schultz (25 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dalton Schultz vs Puka Nacua: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDalton SchultzPuka Nacua
PPG (Half-PPR)8.019.4
Games Played1716
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)136310
Receptions82129
Rec/Game4.88.1
Receiving Yards7771,715
Rec Yds/Game45.7107.2
Receiving TDs310
Targets106166
Target Share/Game6.210.4
Age2925
Experience7 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 8Week 11

Summary

Puka Nacua outscored Dalton Schultz by 11.4 PPG in 2025 (19.4 to 8.0). 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 Puka Nacua in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Puka Nacua has the edge at 19.4 PPG compared to Dalton Schultz's 8.0 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 Puka Nacua average in 2025?

Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Puka Nacua averaged 19.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 11.4 points per game.

When are Dalton Schultz and Puka Nacua's bye weeks in 2026?

Dalton Schultz (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Puka Nacua (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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