Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

George Kittle vs Juwan JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

George Kittle has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (12.1 to 8.3), and George Kittle's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Juwan Johnson 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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TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

TENew Orleans Saints#17

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

George Kittle

Juwan Johnson

Head to Head

12.1 PPG8.3 PPG

11 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, George Kittle is producing at 55% of elite pace and Juwan Johnson at 38%. That ranking gap means George Kittle carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

George Kittle vs Juwan Johnson: The Full Breakdown

George Kittle and Juwan Johnson 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 Juwan Johnson posted 8.3 PPG in 17 appearances for the New Orleans Saints.

A 3.8-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.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 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 Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 8 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire George Kittle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Juwan Johnson is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•George Kittle outscored Juwan Johnson by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•George Kittle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 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.
•Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

George Kittle vs Juwan Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	George Kittle	Juwan Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	8.3
Games Played	11	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	133	141
Receptions	57	77
Rec/Game	5.2	4.5
Receiving Yards	628	889
Rec Yds/Game	57.1	52.3
Receiving TDs	7	3
Targets	69	102
Target Share/Game	6.3	6.0
Age	32	29
Experience	8 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 8

Summary

George Kittle outscored Juwan Johnson by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 8.3). 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 George Kittle or Juwan Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Juwan Johnson's 8.3 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 Juwan Johnson average in 2025?▾

George Kittle averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

Do George Kittle and Juwan Johnson share a bye week?▾

Yes, both George Kittle and Juwan Johnson share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is George Kittle or Juwan Johnson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

George Kittle outscored Juwan Johnson by 3.8 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.