Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Hayden Hurst vs Jake FergusonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jake Ferguson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.7 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jake Ferguson is the better fantasy play this season.

Jake Ferguson is the better play on a neutral week. 8.7 PPG with 601 yards gives a reliable baseline. Hayden Hurst at 3.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Jake Ferguson higher, but do not fade Hayden Hurst entirely.

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

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TELos Angeles Chargers#99

Hayden Hurst

PPG

3.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

238

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

TEDallas Cowboys#14PPG LEADER

Jake Ferguson

PPG

8.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

600

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Hayden Hurst

Jake Ferguson

Head to Head

3.7 PPG8.7 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Jake Ferguson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #14 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Hayden Hurst is producing at 17% of elite pace and Jake Ferguson at 40%. That ranking gap means Jake Ferguson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Hayden Hurst vs Jake Ferguson: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Hayden Hurst and Jake Ferguson for your lineup, you are not alone. Hayden Hurst finished the 2025 season at 3.7 PPG for the Los Angeles Chargers (14 games), and Jake Ferguson averaged 8.7 for the Dallas Cowboys (17 games).

That 5.0-point weekly advantage for Jake Ferguson is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Jake Ferguson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 600 yards, while Hayden Hurst profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Hayden Hurst finds the end zone he out-scores Jake Ferguson, but the floor gap is real.

Hayden Hurst has his bye in Week 5, and Jake Ferguson rests in Week 14. 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

Jake Ferguson is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Hayden Hurst is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Jake Ferguson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Jake Ferguson outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 85 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jake Ferguson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Hayden Hurst's 14. That durability gap means Jake Ferguson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Ferguson scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jake Ferguson saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Hayden Hurst vs Jake Ferguson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Hayden Hurst	Jake Ferguson
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.7	8.7
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	52	148
Receptions	25	82
Rec/Game	1.8	4.8
Receiving Yards	238	600
Rec Yds/Game	17.0	35.3
Receiving TDs	1	8
Targets	35	102
Target Share/Game	2.5	6.0
Age	-	27
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 14

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jake Ferguson at 8.7 PPG, 5.0 points per game above Hayden Hurst's 3.7. 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 Hayden Hurst or Jake Ferguson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jake Ferguson has the edge at 8.7 PPG compared to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 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 Hayden Hurst and Jake Ferguson average in 2025?▾

Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Jake Ferguson averaged 8.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.0 points per game.

When are Hayden Hurst and Jake Ferguson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Jake Ferguson (DAL) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Hayden Hurst or Jake Ferguson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Jake Ferguson outscored Hayden Hurst by 5.0 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.