Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.4 PPG to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

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

Harold Fannin Jr. has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.9-PPG advantage is real (9.4 to 6.5), and Harold Fannin Jr.'s 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Tyler Higbee 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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TECleveland Browns#9PPG LEADER

Harold Fannin Jr.

PPG

9.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

731

Rec TDs

Targets

107

Bye

Week 11

TELos Angeles Rams#25

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Harold Fannin Jr.

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

9.4 PPG6.5 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Harold Fannin Jr.: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #9 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Harold Fannin Jr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Tyler Higbee at 30%. That ranking gap means Harold Fannin Jr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Harold Fannin Jr. and Tyler Higbee are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Harold Fannin Jr. averaged 9.4 PPG across 16 games with the Cleveland Browns, while Tyler Higbee posted 6.5 PPG in 9 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 2.9-PPG gap gives Harold Fannin Jr. 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.

Harold Fannin Jr. is the volume tight end in this matchup with 72 receptions for 731 yards, while Tyler Higbee profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Tyler Higbee finds the end zone he out-scores Harold Fannin Jr., but the floor gap is real.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Harold Fannin Jr. (age 21) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Tyler Higbee by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Harold Fannin Jr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. 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.
•Harold Fannin Jr. is 12 years younger than Tyler Higbee (21 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Harold Fannin Jr.	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.4	6.5
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	150	59
Receptions	72	25
Rec/Game	4.5	2.8
Receiving Yards	731	281
Rec Yds/Game	45.7	31.2
Receiving TDs	6	3
Targets	107	36
Target Share/Game	6.7	4.0
Age	21	33
Experience	-	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Tyler Higbee by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (9.4 to 6.5). 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 Harold Fannin Jr. or Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Harold Fannin Jr. has the edge at 9.4 PPG compared to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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 Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Harold Fannin Jr. averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

Do Harold Fannin Jr. and Tyler Higbee share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Harold Fannin Jr. and Tyler Higbee share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is Harold Fannin Jr. or Tyler Higbee a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Tyler Higbee by 2.9 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.