Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.0 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Theo Johnson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.3-PPG advantage is real (7.0 to 3.7), and Theo Johnson's 5 touchdowns show scoring upside. Hayden Hurst 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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TELos Angeles Chargers#99

Hayden Hurst

PPG

3.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

238

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

TENew York Giants#24PPG LEADER

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Hayden Hurst

Theo Johnson

Head to Head

3.7 PPG7.0 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Hayden Hurst is producing at 17% of elite pace and Theo Johnson at 32%. That ranking gap means Theo Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Hayden Hurst vs Theo Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Hayden Hurst and Theo Johnson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 PPG across 14 games with the Los Angeles Chargers, while Theo Johnson posted 7.0 PPG in 15 appearances for the New York Giants.

A 3.3-PPG gap gives Theo Johnson 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.

Theo Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 45 receptions for 528 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 Theo Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Hayden Hurst sits Week 5 while Theo Johnson is off Week 8. 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

If you can acquire Theo Johnson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Hayden Hurst is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Theo Johnson outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 56 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Theo Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Hayden Hurst's 14. That durability gap means Theo Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Theo Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Theo Johnson saw 74 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 Theo Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Hayden Hurst	Theo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.7	7.0
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	52	105
Receptions	25	45
Rec/Game	1.8	3.0
Receiving Yards	238	528
Rec Yds/Game	17.0	35.2
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	35	74
Target Share/Game	2.5	4.9
Age	-	25
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 8

Summary

Theo Johnson outscored Hayden Hurst by 3.3 PPG in 2025 (7.0 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 Theo Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Theo Johnson has the edge at 7.0 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 Theo Johnson average in 2025?▾

Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 3.3 points per game.

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

Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5, and Theo Johnson (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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

Theo Johnson outscored Hayden Hurst by 3.3 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.