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Harold Fannin Jr. vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.4 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better fantasy play this season.

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better play on a neutral week. 9.4 PPG with 744 yards gives a reliable baseline. Michael Mayer at 4.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Harold Fannin Jr. higher, but do not fade Michael Mayer entirely.

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

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TECleveland Browns#9PPG LEADER
Harold Fannin Jr.
PPG
9.4
Games
16
Rec
72
Rec Yds
731
Rec TDs
6
Targets
107
Bye
Week 11
TELas Vegas Raiders#37
Michael Mayer
PPG
4.7
Games
12
Rec
35
Rec Yds
328
Rec TDs
1
Targets
50
Bye
Week 13

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Harold Fannin Jr.
Michael Mayer

Head to Head

9.4 PPG4.7 PPG
16 GP12 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Harold Fannin Jr.: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #9 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Harold Fannin Jr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Harold Fannin Jr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Harold Fannin Jr. and Michael Mayer is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Cleveland Browns tight end put up 9.4 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Michael Mayer of the Las Vegas Raiders averaged 4.7 in 12. A 4.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.7 points favors Harold Fannin Jr., though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Harold Fannin Jr. is the volume tight end in this matchup with 72 receptions for 731 yards, while Michael Mayer profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 35 catches). In weeks where Michael Mayer finds the end zone he out-scores Harold Fannin Jr., but the floor gap is real.

Harold Fannin Jr. has his bye in Week 11, and Michael Mayer rests in Week 13. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Harold Fannin Jr. is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Michael Mayer is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Harold Fannin Jr. (age 21) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 80 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Harold Fannin Jr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Michael Mayer's 12. That durability gap means Harold Fannin Jr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Harold Fannin Jr. scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Harold Fannin Jr. saw 107 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatHarold Fannin Jr.Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)9.44.7
Games Played1612
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)15056
Receptions7235
Rec/Game4.52.9
Receiving Yards731328
Rec Yds/Game45.727.3
Receiving TDs61
Targets10750
Target Share/Game6.74.2
Age2124
Experience-2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 13

Summary

9.4 PPG for Harold Fannin Jr. versus 4.7 for Michael Mayer in 2025. The baseline favors Harold Fannin Jr., though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Harold Fannin Jr. or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Harold Fannin Jr. has the edge at 9.4 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 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 Harold Fannin Jr. and Michael Mayer average in 2025?

Harold Fannin Jr. averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 4.7 points per game.

When are Harold Fannin Jr. and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?

Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) has a bye in Week 11, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Harold Fannin Jr. or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Michael Mayer by 4.7 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.