Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

George Kittle vs Joe MixonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.5 PPG to George Kittle's 12.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Joe Mixon (16.5 PPG) is the higher-floor play. George Kittle (12.1 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TESan Francisco 49ers#3

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

George Kittle

Joe Mixon

Head to Head

12.1 PPG16.5 PPG

11 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Deep League) RB in most league formats.

George Kittle vs Joe Mixon: The Full Breakdown

Comparing George Kittle (TE, San Francisco 49ers) against Joe Mixon (RB, Houston Texans) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG in 2025 over 11 games, while Joe Mixon posted 16.5 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.

George Kittle has his bye in Week 8, Joe Mixon in Week 14. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Joe Mixon is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. George Kittle is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored George Kittle by a projected 75 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Joe Mixon contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

George Kittle vs Joe Mixon: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	George Kittle	Joe Mixon
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	16.5
Games Played	11	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	133	248
Rushing Yards	-3	1,165
Rush Yds/Game	-0.3	77.7
Rushing TDs	0	11
Receptions	57	32
Receiving Yards	628	240
Targets	69	0
Total TDs	7	12
Age	32	-
Experience	8 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 14

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Joe Mixon at 16.5 PPG, 4.4 points per game above George Kittle's 12.1. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start George Kittle or Joe Mixon in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to George Kittle's 12.1 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 George Kittle and Joe Mixon average in 2025?▾

George Kittle averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.4 points per game.

When are George Kittle and Joe Mixon's bye weeks in 2026?▾

George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 8, and Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.