Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Njoku vs Hayden HurstWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Njoku is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.3 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

David Njoku is the better fantasy play this season.

David Njoku has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.6-PPG advantage is real (6.3 to 3.7), and David Njoku's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Hayden Hurst 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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TECleveland Browns#26PPG LEADER

David Njoku

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TELos Angeles Chargers#99

Hayden Hurst

PPG

3.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

238

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

David Njoku

Hayden Hurst

Head to Head

6.3 PPG3.7 PPG

11 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

David Njoku: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #26 at the position). Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, David Njoku is producing at 29% of elite pace and Hayden Hurst at 17%. That ranking gap means David Njoku carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Njoku vs Hayden Hurst: The Full Breakdown

David Njoku and Hayden Hurst are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. David Njoku averaged 6.3 PPG across 11 games with the Cleveland Browns, while Hayden Hurst posted 3.7 PPG in 14 appearances for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 2.6-PPG gap gives David Njoku 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. David Njoku had 33 catches for 293 yards; Hayden Hurst posted 25 for 238. 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: David Njoku sits Week 11 while Hayden Hurst is off Week 5. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: David Njoku (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•David Njoku outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Hayden Hurst played 14 games in 2025 compared to David Njoku's 11. That durability gap means Hayden Hurst contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Njoku scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•David Njoku saw 48 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Njoku vs Hayden Hurst: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Njoku	Hayden Hurst
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.3	3.7
Games Played	11	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	69	52
Receptions	33	25
Rec/Game	3.0	1.8
Receiving Yards	293	238
Rec Yds/Game	26.6	17.0
Receiving TDs	4	1
Targets	48	35
Target Share/Game	4.4	2.5
Age	29	-
Experience	8 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 5

Summary

David Njoku outscored Hayden Hurst by 2.6 PPG in 2025 (6.3 to 3.7). 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 David Njoku or Hayden Hurst in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Njoku has the edge at 6.3 PPG compared to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 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 David Njoku and Hayden Hurst average in 2025?▾

David Njoku averaged 6.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are David Njoku and Hayden Hurst's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Njoku (CLE) has a bye in Week 11, and Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Njoku or Hayden Hurst a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

David Njoku outscored Hayden Hurst by 2.6 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.