Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Hayden Hurst vs Juwan JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Juwan Johnson is the better play on a neutral week. 8.3 PPG with 889 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 Juwan Johnson 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

TENew Orleans Saints#17PPG LEADER

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Hayden Hurst

Juwan Johnson

Head to Head

3.7 PPG8.3 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Hayden Hurst is producing at 17% of elite pace and Juwan Johnson at 38%. That ranking gap means Juwan Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Hayden Hurst vs Juwan Johnson: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Hayden Hurst and Juwan Johnson 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 Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 for the New Orleans Saints (17 games).

That 4.6-point weekly advantage for Juwan Johnson 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.

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

One scheduling note: Hayden Hurst is off Week 5 and Juwan Johnson Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Juwan Johnson 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. Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Juwan Johnson outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 78 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Hayden Hurst's 14. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Juwan Johnson scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Hayden Hurst vs Juwan Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Hayden Hurst	Juwan Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.7	8.3
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	52	141
Receptions	25	77
Rec/Game	1.8	4.5
Receiving Yards	238	889
Rec Yds/Game	17.0	52.3
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	35	102
Target Share/Game	2.5	6.0
Age	-	29
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Juwan Johnson at 8.3 PPG, 4.6 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 Juwan Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Juwan Johnson has the edge at 8.3 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 Juwan Johnson average in 2025?▾

Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.6 points per game.

When are Hayden Hurst and Juwan Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Hayden Hurst or Juwan Johnson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson outscored Hayden Hurst by 4.6 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.