George Kittle vs Jake Ferguson: Who Should You Start?
George Kittle and Jake Ferguson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG across 11 games with the San Francisco 49ers, while Jake Ferguson posted 8.7 PPG in 17 appearances for the Dallas Cowboys.
A 3.4-PPG gap gives George Kittle 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.
Jake Ferguson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 600 yards, while George Kittle profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (7 scores on 57 catches). In weeks where George Kittle finds the end zone he out-scores Jake Ferguson, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: George Kittle sits Week 9 while Jake Ferguson is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
