Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Derrick Henry (16.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. T.J. Hockenson (5.8 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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RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 13

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

16.0 PPG5.8 PPG

17 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE in most league formats.

Derrick Henry vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Derrick Henry (RB, Baltimore Ravens) against T.J. Hockenson (TE, Minnesota Vikings) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while T.J. Hockenson posted 5.8 PPG across 15 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.

Derrick Henry has his bye in Week 13, T.J. Hockenson in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Derrick Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. T.J. Hockenson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Derrick Henry outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 173 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry played 17 games in 2025 compared to T.J. Hockenson's 15. That durability gap means Derrick Henry contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Derrick Henry scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•T.J. Hockenson caught 51 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•T.J. Hockenson is 4 years younger than Derrick Henry (28 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	5.8
Games Played	17	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	87
Rushing Yards	1,595	0
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	0.0
Rushing TDs	16	0
Receptions	15	51
Receiving Yards	150	438
Targets	21	66
Total TDs	16	3
Age	32	28
Experience	9 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 6

Summary

Derrick Henry outscored T.J. Hockenson by 10.2 PPG in 2025 (16.0 to 5.8). 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 Derrick Henry or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 PPG compared to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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 Derrick Henry and T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 10.2 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.