Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Dawson Knox vs Juwan JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Dawson Knox's 5.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Juwan Johnson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.9-PPG advantage is real (8.3 to 5.4), and Juwan Johnson's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Dawson Knox 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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TEBuffalo Bills#33

Dawson Knox

PPG

5.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

417

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TENew Orleans Saints#17PPG LEADER

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Dawson Knox

Juwan Johnson

Head to Head

5.4 PPG8.3 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Dawson Knox: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #33 at the position). Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dawson Knox is producing at 25% of elite pace and Juwan Johnson at 38%. That ranking gap means Juwan Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dawson Knox vs Juwan Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Dawson Knox and Juwan Johnson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 PPG across 16 games with the Buffalo Bills, while Juwan Johnson posted 8.3 PPG in 17 appearances for the New Orleans Saints.

A 2.9-PPG gap gives Juwan Johnson 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.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 yards, while Dawson Knox profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 36 catches). In weeks where Dawson Knox finds the end zone he out-scores Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Dawson Knox sits Week 7 while Juwan Johnson is off Week 8. 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: Dawson Knox (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Juwan Johnson outscored Dawson Knox by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Dawson Knox's 16. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dawson Knox scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Juwan Johnson saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dawson Knox vs Juwan Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Dawson Knox	Juwan Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.4	8.3
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	86	141
Receptions	36	77
Rec/Game	2.3	4.5
Receiving Yards	417	889
Rec Yds/Game	26.1	52.3
Receiving TDs	4	3
Targets	49	102
Target Share/Game	3.1	6.0
Age	29	29
Experience	6 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 8

Summary

Juwan Johnson outscored Dawson Knox by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (8.3 to 5.4). 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 Dawson Knox or Juwan Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Juwan Johnson has the edge at 8.3 PPG compared to Dawson Knox's 5.4 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 Dawson Knox and Juwan Johnson average in 2025?▾

Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are Dawson Knox and Juwan Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dawson Knox (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dawson Knox or Juwan Johnson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson outscored Dawson Knox by 2.9 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.