Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Gunnar Helm vs Jake TongesWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Gunnar Helm's 4.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jake Tonges is the better fantasy play this season.

Jake Tonges has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.1-PPG advantage is real (8.5 to 4.4), and Jake Tonges's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Gunnar Helm 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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TETennessee Titans#40

Gunnar Helm

PPG

4.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

357

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TESan Francisco 49ers#15PPG LEADER

Jake Tonges

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Gunnar Helm

Jake Tonges

Head to Head

4.4 PPG8.5 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Gunnar Helm: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #40 at the position). Jake Tonges: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Gunnar Helm is producing at 20% of elite pace and Jake Tonges at 39%. That ranking gap means Jake Tonges carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Gunnar Helm vs Jake Tonges: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Gunnar Helm (Tennessee Titans) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.4 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Jake Tonges (San Francisco 49ers) came in at 8.5 PPG over 9 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Jake Tonges carries a 4.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Gunnar Helm had 44 catches for 357 yards; Jake Tonges posted 34 for 293. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Gunnar Helm sits Week 9 while Jake Tonges 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

If you can acquire Jake Tonges at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Gunnar Helm is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Gunnar Helm (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Jake Tonges (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jake Tonges outscored Gunnar Helm by a projected 70 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Gunnar Helm played 16 games in 2025 compared to Jake Tonges's 9. That durability gap means Gunnar Helm contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Tonges scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Gunnar Helm saw 55 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Gunnar Helm vs Jake Tonges: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Gunnar Helm	Jake Tonges
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.4	8.5
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	70	77
Receptions	44	34
Rec/Game	2.8	3.8
Receiving Yards	357	293
Rec Yds/Game	22.3	32.6
Receiving TDs	2	5
Targets	55	46
Target Share/Game	3.4	5.1
Age	23	26
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Jake Tonges holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 8.5 points per game. Gunnar Helm averaged 4.4 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Gunnar Helm or Jake Tonges in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jake Tonges has the edge at 8.5 PPG compared to Gunnar Helm's 4.4 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 Gunnar Helm and Jake Tonges average in 2025?▾

Gunnar Helm averaged 4.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Jake Tonges averaged 8.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 4.1 points per game.

When are Gunnar Helm and Jake Tonges's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Gunnar Helm (TEN) has a bye in Week 9, and Jake Tonges (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Gunnar Helm or Jake Tonges a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jake Tonges outscored Gunnar Helm by 4.1 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.