Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Hayden Hurst vs Mason TaylorWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Mason Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 5.1 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Mason Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

This one is genuinely close. Mason Taylor edges Hayden Hurst by 1.4 PPG, but both are in the same production tier. The decision comes down to weekly matchup, not season-long resume. If you are choosing between them in a draft, Mason Taylor goes slightly earlier based on volume, but do not reach for the difference.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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 York Jets#34PPG LEADER

Mason Taylor

PPG

5.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

369

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Hayden Hurst

Mason Taylor

Head to Head

3.7 PPG5.1 PPG

14 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Mason Taylor: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #34 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Hayden Hurst is producing at 17% of elite pace and Mason Taylor at 23%. That ranking gap means Mason Taylor carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Hayden Hurst vs Mason Taylor: The Full Breakdown

Hayden Hurst (3.7 PPG) and Mason Taylor (5.1 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Hayden Hurst played 14 games for the Los Angeles Chargers; Mason Taylor suited up 13 times for the New York Jets.

A 1.4-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Mason Taylor is the volume tight end in this matchup with 44 receptions for 369 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 Mason Taylor, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Hayden Hurst sits Week 5 while Mason Taylor is off Week 13. 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

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: Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Mason Taylor (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Mason Taylor outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 24 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Hayden Hurst played 14 games in 2025 compared to Mason Taylor's 13. That durability gap means Hayden Hurst contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Hayden Hurst scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Mason Taylor saw 65 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 Mason Taylor: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Hayden Hurst	Mason Taylor
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.7	5.1
Games Played	14	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	52	66
Receptions	25	44
Rec/Game	1.8	3.4
Receiving Yards	238	369
Rec Yds/Game	17.0	28.4
Receiving TDs	1	1
Targets	35	65
Target Share/Game	2.5	5.0
Age	-	22
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 13

Summary

Mason Taylor outscored Hayden Hurst by 1.4 PPG in 2025 (5.1 to 3.7). 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 Hayden Hurst or Mason Taylor in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Mason Taylor has the edge at 5.1 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 Mason Taylor average in 2025?▾

Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Mason Taylor averaged 5.1 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.4 points per game.

When are Hayden Hurst and Mason Taylor's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Mason Taylor (NYJ) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Hayden Hurst or Mason Taylor a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Mason Taylor outscored Hayden Hurst by 1.4 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.